Shoes to outrun disease
Project Outrun provides sneakers to young patients
Olivia Burgess (right) is excited about her new shoes. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
Caleb Burgess ponders his design with the help of teacher Amelia Capotosta. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – Children battling pediatric cancer or any other type of disease often have many obstacles to overcome and proverbial monsters to outrun. For that reason, a local nonprofit wants to inspire as many children as possible with a great pair of shoes to help them on their race to recovery.
Wadsworth resident Andy Shepperd founded Project Outrun just about a year ago. Shepperd has had the help of his wife Stefanie, who is a teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. Other Lincoln teachers including Katie McKenzie and Amelia Capotosta have been core volunteers as well. The group goes to Akron Children’s Hospital once a month and works with both outpatient and inpatient children helping them to design their own pair of Nike ID shoes. The children get to pick out their own colors, messages and designs. The purpose is to help empower children to “outrun” whatever they feel is chasing them such as fear, sickness, doubt and worry.
“We have gotten the coolest messages and positive feedback from parents,” Stefanie said. “I think this really helps the kids to feel strong.”
Shepperd said the inspiration for this initiative came back in 2015 when he ran a 5K in Copley which was a fundraiser for cancer patient Kylie Rose Jacobs.
“I didn’t know her, but I remember seeing her on the track doing the fun run and she was just this little ball of light,” Shepperd said.
Shepperd thought Jacobs should have her own pair of Nike IDs so she could outrun her cancer. He ended up designing a pair for her and sent a picture to her dad saying “When Kylie outruns cancer, she has to be wearing the right shoes.”
Shepperd knew from then that he wanted to do this for as many kids battling disease as possible. The group started small, working with 17 kids at Akron Children’s to design shoes. Not only does each student receive shoes, but they also get a swag bag with a T-shirt, support socks and a piece of finish line tape that they can bust through once they’ve met their goal.
“The only cost of the shoes is that kids have to set a goal for themselves,” Shepperd said. “Maybe that is recovering from a surgery or maybe just being nice to a brother or sister. Once they have reached that goal, mom and dad can hold the finish line and they can burst through it.”
Project Outrun had a fundraiser over the summer and they were able to raise $15,000 to help with the cost of the shoes and other items. Nike has also worked with the organization to help stretch the dollars further.
The organization has now designed shoes for nearly 100 kids and in April they will return to Akron Children’s Hospital to work with another 50 kids.
Project Outrun also recently embarked on something a bit closer to home. Volunteers met at Lincoln Elementary School March 27 to work with two Wadsworth kids – Caleb and Olivia Burgess – who both suffer from a genetic disease that attacks nerves and muscles.
The kids enjoyed pizza, cupcakes and other treats while they chose the colors and design for their shoes.
“I’m excited about the design,” said Caleb, who is a student at Valley View Elementary School.
Caleb, an avid Steelers fan, chose a black and gold design for his shoes.
Olivia, a fifth grader at Central Intermediate School, went with a Grizzly theme for her shoes. The shoes were designed in red, black and white and included the message “Live Big.”
“I’m excited to wear them at spirit days at school,” she said.
For more information about Project Outrun or to donate, log on to www.projectoutrun.org.
Wadsworth resident Andy Shepperd founded Project Outrun just about a year ago. Shepperd has had the help of his wife Stefanie, who is a teacher at Lincoln Elementary School. Other Lincoln teachers including Katie McKenzie and Amelia Capotosta have been core volunteers as well. The group goes to Akron Children’s Hospital once a month and works with both outpatient and inpatient children helping them to design their own pair of Nike ID shoes. The children get to pick out their own colors, messages and designs. The purpose is to help empower children to “outrun” whatever they feel is chasing them such as fear, sickness, doubt and worry.
“We have gotten the coolest messages and positive feedback from parents,” Stefanie said. “I think this really helps the kids to feel strong.”
Shepperd said the inspiration for this initiative came back in 2015 when he ran a 5K in Copley which was a fundraiser for cancer patient Kylie Rose Jacobs.
“I didn’t know her, but I remember seeing her on the track doing the fun run and she was just this little ball of light,” Shepperd said.
Shepperd thought Jacobs should have her own pair of Nike IDs so she could outrun her cancer. He ended up designing a pair for her and sent a picture to her dad saying “When Kylie outruns cancer, she has to be wearing the right shoes.”
Shepperd knew from then that he wanted to do this for as many kids battling disease as possible. The group started small, working with 17 kids at Akron Children’s to design shoes. Not only does each student receive shoes, but they also get a swag bag with a T-shirt, support socks and a piece of finish line tape that they can bust through once they’ve met their goal.
“The only cost of the shoes is that kids have to set a goal for themselves,” Shepperd said. “Maybe that is recovering from a surgery or maybe just being nice to a brother or sister. Once they have reached that goal, mom and dad can hold the finish line and they can burst through it.”
Project Outrun had a fundraiser over the summer and they were able to raise $15,000 to help with the cost of the shoes and other items. Nike has also worked with the organization to help stretch the dollars further.
The organization has now designed shoes for nearly 100 kids and in April they will return to Akron Children’s Hospital to work with another 50 kids.
Project Outrun also recently embarked on something a bit closer to home. Volunteers met at Lincoln Elementary School March 27 to work with two Wadsworth kids – Caleb and Olivia Burgess – who both suffer from a genetic disease that attacks nerves and muscles.
The kids enjoyed pizza, cupcakes and other treats while they chose the colors and design for their shoes.
“I’m excited about the design,” said Caleb, who is a student at Valley View Elementary School.
Caleb, an avid Steelers fan, chose a black and gold design for his shoes.
Olivia, a fifth grader at Central Intermediate School, went with a Grizzly theme for her shoes. The shoes were designed in red, black and white and included the message “Live Big.”
“I’m excited to wear them at spirit days at school,” she said.
For more information about Project Outrun or to donate, log on to www.projectoutrun.org.
