King Jay: This is the limited edition clothing collection that gives back

Every time Jayden Strauss laced up for a basketball game, he had one thing on his mind: “you gotta have fire on your feet.” His unique catchphrase came from an obsession with sneakers, basketball, and Lebron James – AKA ‘King James.’

When the 18-year-old Edmonton high school athlete was diagnosed with stage 4 Rhabdomyosarcoma, Strauss had one wish: designing his own pair of custom Nike sneakers.

The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada rushed to grant his wish this fall as Strauss’ health began to deteriorate. The all-Canadian wish-granting organization, which operates in every province and territory across the country, hooked up with renowned American shoe designers Dead Dilly and Proof Culture to bring his shoe designs come to life.

Strauss’ shoes included materials from seven different Nike shoes, a custom paint job, a custom hang tag, Italian leather laces, and a custom wooden box. After tireless work cutting and hand-sewing the one-of-a-kind sneakers, the designers then hand-delivered the shoes to Strauss in the hospital, where he was overjoyed that not only was he getting one shoe, he was getting a complete pair!

Jayden’s new sneakers/Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada

The impact of his wish was so powerful that Strauss lived months longer than expected while waiting for his wish to be completed. When he finally received the shoes in October, he laced them up and walked the hospital hallway for the first time in weeks. Not only did he have fire on his feet when he took those laborious steps, Strauss slept in the shoes as well.

Sadly, a few weeks after receiving his wish, he passed away, but it was the fire in his fight that inspired King Jay – an apparel line created by Children’s Wish in Strauss’ memory. The limited-edition clothing was designed to unite us all with each piece emblazoned with one of four interconnected shoelace patterns. With all proceeds going to Children’s Wish, King Jay will help grant more wishes for more courageous kids.

King Jay shoes/Chilren’s Wish Foundation of Canada

Strauss’ wish was a unique and important one for the foundation. After over 30 years in operation, this was the 25,000th wish granted by Children’s Wish. Each and every wish is fully funded by donors and the foundation receives no government support.

On average, a wish costs roughly $10,000 to fulfill and can include a trip, experience, or item. By and large, the most popular wish requests are trips to Disney theme parks, but Strauss’ wish was one of the more unique in Children’s Wish history.

“It was such a cool, yet challenging, wish and timing was tight,” Lyanne Goulin, national director of wish granting at Children’s Wish Foundation, told Daily Hive. “We had to move mountains to make this happen and to get the shoes in Jayden’s hands. To see him get out of his bed and walk for the first time in weeks made it all worthwhile.”

Children’s Wish is hoping King Jay apparel will help carry Strauss’ wish forward for other children living with a serious illness.

King Jay/Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada

“We’re asking people to join the kingdom by purchasing a piece of King Jay apparel and help us grant the next 25,000 wishes for Canadian children diagnosed with a life-threatening illness like Jayden,” Goulin added.

“I think Jayden will be an inspiration to other wish kids. He took the opportunity to take a wish and pay it forward, and I hope he’ll inspire other wish kids to be strong.”

All of the limited edition King Jay apparel, including sweaters, hoodies, t-shirts, and baby onesies, are available online at kingjay.org. And they make the perfect holiday gifts, all for a great cause.

Daily Hive is a proud media sponsor of Children’s Wish Foundation