Nike has donated tens of thousands of trainers to frontline healthcare workers fighting the pandemic around the world.
The sportswear company has teamed up with charities in London, Europe and America to give workers more than 140,000 pieces of kit, including 32,000 trainers.
Sport stars including British professional boxer Joshua Buatsi, Italian volleyball player Cristina Chirichella and Memphis Grizzlies basketball point guard, Ja Morant, joined forces with Nike to record a message of thanks to those fighting Covid-19.
Some 30,000 pairs of Nike Air Zoom Pulse have been donated to hospitals in Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis and New York City.
A further 2,500 pairs were given to hospitals across Europe, including in Barcelona, Berlin, London, Milan, Paris and Belgium.
A Nike spokesman said: "Unveiled in November 2019, the Nike Air Zoom Pulse is our first shoe designed for the healthcare athlete, an everyday hero.
"Fit, cushioning and traction systems work together to secure the foot in hospital conditions.
"All solutions were finalized in tandem with considerations from medical workers at Oregon Health & Science University and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon."
On top of the trainers, Nike donated sportswear kit including drawstring bags, water bottles, hats, headbands and socks.
It has also produced facemasks, shields and air-purifying respirator (PAPR) lenses to help protect healthcare workers against the disease.
"Our Nike family has come together to serve our communities and support our COVID-19 response efforts in communities around the world," the spokesman added.
"Nike’s leaders, employees, the Nike Foundation and Nike have committed more than $25 million to these efforts, including $2 million in employee donations, supercharged by a two-to-one match since mid-March to support community organizations in need."
