MATTHEW WALZER

Matthew Walzer is my hero.

He should be your hero too.

And he should be every thinking human being’s hero.

In the summer of 2012, Walzer was preparing for his junior year of high school.

As most kids his age, he began thinking more and more about college, his emotions toggling back and forth between excitement and anxiety.

His paramount concern?

The simple ability to tie — and untie — his shoes.

Pardon me.

Not so simple.

Matthew Walzer was born two months premature, checking in at two pounds, 14 ounces.

He had under-developed lungs, contributing to a reduced oxygen flow to the brain, and he was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Although he was able to overcome many of the physical limitations doctors had predicted for him, tying his shoes remained a daunting challenge; Matthew had flexibility in only one hand.

But he is determined, fiercely resolute and remarkably creative and intuitive.

He is also highly intelligent.

In August of 2012 he floated an idea to Nike in the form of a letter.

To Whom It May Concern:

“My name is Matthew Walzer. I am a high school student and will be a junior at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

I was born two months premature on October 19, 1995. I weighed only two pounds fourteen ounces, and because my lungs were fully not developed, my brain did not receive enough oxygen.

As a result, I have a brain injury that caused me to have Cerebral Palsy.

Fortunately, I am only affected physically, as others can be affected mentally, physically or both.

I have overcome many challenges in my life.

Although doctors from the country’s top hospitals told my parents that I would never walk; and if I ever talked I would have a major lisp, these diagnoses proved to be false.

I walk somewhat independently around my home and use crutches when I’m out or at school.

I’ve also never had a speech problem.

In fact, I am planning on attending college.

I have attained a 3.9 grade point average (4 being the highest) and I am taking advanced placement classes.

I have a strong passion for journalism and write for the sports and news sections of my high school newspaper.

This year I personally received an award for writing one of the top high school sports columns in my county.

Out of all the challenges I have overcome in my life, there is one that I am still trying to master, tying my shoes.

Cerebral Palsy stiffens the muscles in the body.

As a result I have flexibility in only one of my hands which makes it impossible for me to tie my 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.

I am currently wearing the ‘Lunar Hyper Gamer’ and ‘LeBron Zoom Soldier 6’s.’

At 16 years old, I am able to completely dress myself, but my parents still have to tie my shoes.

As a teenager who is striving to become totally self-sufficient, I find this extremely frustrating, and at times, embarrassing.

I know that Nike makes slip-ons, sandals and other types of shoes.

However, I and many other physically challenged people are unable to wear them due to a lack of support.

When I think of Nike, I think of one of America’s most innovative and forward thinking companies.

Nike is always pushing the limits, making their shoes lighter, faster and stronger by using new materials, new designs and new technologies.

This benefits people all around the world.

Bill Bowerman said it best, “If you have a body you are an athlete.”

I believe everyone, no matter what their physical, economic, or social circumstances may be, deserves to call themselves an athlete, and deserves to have a sense of freedom and independence.

If Nike would design and produce basketball and running shoes with moderate support and some kind of closure system that could be used by everyone, Nike could create a shoe line that attracts people that face the same physical challenges I did and still do, yet it could still be possible for anyone to wear them.

I am always searching the web for any type of shoe brand that makes athletic shoes that provide good support, are self-lacing and are made for everyday wear or for playing sports.

It is disappointing that no athletic brand has taken the creative initiative to design and produce athletic shoes in this category.

I hope that by bringing this to your attention, Nike will consider being the forerunner in producing athletic shoes that will make the difference in the quality of so many lives.

This letter is not a business proposal.

I am simply making you aware that there is a need for this type of athletic shoe, a great need.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

No matter what challenges I’ve faced in my life, I’ve always strived to be independent, independence is for everyone.

Best Regards,

Matthew Walzer”

Bravo Matthew!!!

BRAVO MATTHEW!!!

Bravo Matthew!!!

Walzer’s masterpiece quickly landed in the hands of renowned Nike designer Tobie Hatfield, who had been working with Special Olympians on similar challenges, in addition to designing for Paralympians.

Voilà, Nike “Go FlyEase!!”

“Easy on, easy off.”

Laceless sneakers which require no use of the hands.

Walzer figured that his plea would fall on deaf ears, come up empty.

“I knew what I was doing was, in football terms, ‘a Hail Mary,’ and to be quite honest I had very low expectations.

I was expecting a very polite letter back in recognition of my request.

There are not enough ‘thank yous’ in the world to express my undying gratitude,” Walzer is quoted as saying in a post.

Hatfield reached out to Walzer and began developing prototypes to address his specific needs.

And it became a mutual admiration society of the two.

“I worked with Matthew just as I would with any athlete,” Hatfield recalled. “He was an absolute pleasure to work with.”

In 2012, Nike delivered a Hatfield prototype to Walzer for wear testing.

He was beyond thrilled.

“Your talented team of designers has thoughtfully created a shoe that, for the first time in my life, I can put on myself. When I put the shoes on every morning, they give the greatest sense of independence and accomplishment I have ever felt in my life,” Walzer remarked at the time.

But Hatfield wasn’t finished.

He pressed on, determined to create and deliver an even better product for Walzer and any athlete experiencing similar circumstances.

Hatfield and his team refined designs for well over another year, experimenting with a variety of no-lace solutions ranging from Velcro to Zippers to Cable Dials.

He looked to a number of Nike silhouettes including the ‘Hyperdunk’ and the ‘Zoom Soldier,’ LeBron James models, which pleased Walzer enormously, as James is his favorite basketball player.

Observed Hatfield, “LeBron’s footwear provided the ankle support Matthew needed, but of course getting into and out of high-top shoes can present its own challenges, so we focused not just on replacing the lacing system but also creating an easier entry system for the foot.”

What became a three-year journey, yielded the Nike Go FlyEase.

FlyEase introduces a wrap-around zipper feature that opens the back of the shoe near the heel-counter, making it easier to slide the foot in and out.

At the same time, the system provides sufficient lockdown and eliminates the need to tie traditional laces.

“In talking to Matthew and many other athletes with disabilities, the ease of entry was just as important as the lacing solution,” Hatfield explained.

“While varying levels of mobility make it difficult to provide a universal solution, we feel this is a significant development for anyone who has ever struggled with independently securing their foot within Nike shoes.”

The vision Hatfield and Walzer brought to life was never intended for just one athlete.

Hatfield expounded, pointing out that, “There is a real need for a solution like this and it feels good to be part of something that is going to help so many people.

Like the asterisk accompanying Nike’s mission statement says, ‘If you have a body, you’re an athlete.’

That means everybody and we never forget that.”

The LeBron ‘Soldier 8’ FlyEase carries an asterisk just under the strap on the medial side, and future FlyEase designs will follow suit, celebrating that noble ideal.

As for Matthew Walzer, he wears his favorite custom ‘Zoom Soldier 8’ FlyEase kicks — and an assortment of other styles, no doubt — with great joy as a proud college graduate of FGCU.

And he got to meet his hero LeBron, to boot, who returned the young man’s admiration in glowing terms.

“Matthew inspired us at Nike to be able to bring something special that will not only be for himself but also for the masses,” James asserted.

“The shoe and the inspiration he gave us is going to go way beyond Nike, Matthew and myself. I am very honored and blessed that my shoe is part of the whole process.

This is an unbelievable story, and Nike has done a great job of being able to create something that’s so incredible and will last a lifetime.”

Amen to that.

And as Walzer the advocate — clearly, one who would never settle for the status quo — has known always, “You can’t change anything if you’re sitting on the sidelines.”

Thank you Matthew.

[Editor’s Note: This piece was written by Mr. Kaplan in February 2021.]