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BEAVERTON, Ore. — Nike released a video telling the touching story behind a new basketball shoe design, made for those who can't use two hands to put on their shoes.
"If you have a body, you are an athlete," part of the Nike mission statement reads. "Which means insights may come from professionals, but they also arrive from unexpected places," according to Nike.
Nike recently backed their mission statement with the release of a new basketball shoe. It's called the FlyEase, and it was designed and developed over the last three years with an "entry-and-closure system for athletes who have trouble getting in and out of shoes, and securing them."
Tobie Hatfield designed the shoe, using teen Matthew Walzer as inspiration. Walzer has cerebral palsy and only has flexibility in one hand, which meant he couldn't lace up his shoes by himself. During his junior year of high school, he started thinking about how he could go to college with less assistance.
In the touching video, Walzer expresses his desire to be more independent, not relying on others to be there to help him with his shoes.
"My dream is to go to the college of my choice without having to worry about someone coming to tie my shoes every day. I've worn Nike basketball shoes all my life. I can only wear this type of shoe, because I need ankle support to walk," Walzer wrote in a letter to Nike in 2012.
That same year, Hatfield sent Walzer a prototype pair, and it was more than he ever expected.
"When I put the shoes on every morning, they give the greatest sense of independence and accomplishment I have ever felt in my life," said Walzer at the time.
Walzer is now a sophomore at Florida Gulf Coast University, sporting his custom FlyEase shoes.
But the sneakers weren't only developed for Walzer. Hatfield had mass-production in mind when perfecting his design, and the shoes will be available in limited quantities on Nike's website starting July 16. Additionally, Nike is giving the shoes to two basketball teams participating in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
To see more of Walzer's touching story and his meet-and-greet with LaBron James, watch the video above. Fair warning, you may need tissues. You can also read Nike's full statement and more details about the shoes here.
Courtesy Nike
