A high school football player in Michigan is getting around a little more comfortably these days thanks to generosity from several footwear brands.
First reported in March by local outlet M Live, 14-year-old Eric Kilburn was faced with the challenge of wearing an already difficult to track down size 22 shoe that was quickly growing into a size 23. His size 22 pair had been professionally stretched to better accommodate his feet, but Kilburn was still getting blisters from the snug shoes.
His parents tried reaching out to brands for help, but Nike reportedly told them they could only assist if he was a professional athlete. A customer service rep at Adidas, meanwhile, told them they may have better luck if the story were to go viral—which it did.
Numerous brands reached out to the family in recent weeks, with Under Armour taking a 3D scan of his feet on March 26 to create Kilburn custom shoes. Puma has also reportedly scheduled custom fittings with the family. Reebok went straight to his doorstep with a delivery of shoes that were made personally for Shaquille O’Neal, and Kilburn also received a phone call from the fellow big footer.
“I was flabbergasted,” Kilburn told Detroit Free Press about the call from Shaq. “My soul left my body for a moment, I was so shocked.”
