Florida’s Matthew Walzer, 19, was born with cerebral palsy, a disorder that inhibits the movements required to put on or tie his own shoes. In 2012, Walzer (then 16 years old) wrote to Nike about his difficulties asking for help. He was probably not expecting the response he got.
The letter was reviewed by Nike CEO Mark Parker and sent to Tobie Hatfield, Nike’s senior director of athlete innovation. Hatfield, who had seen a dear one suffer from similar problems, was more than happy to get cracking on the project. Cut to 2015, and Nike’s Flyease technology is ready for release! Watch this video that explains how the shoe works, and the heartwarming surprise that Walzer gets!