A teen's custom shows for his huge feet are Under Armour's largest pair ever made.
Eric Kilburn Jr, from Clarkston, Michigan, USA, may only be 14 - but his feet measure in at an enormous size 22 - or an average size 17 in UK shoe sizes.
For years the 6ft 10 high school student has struggled to find hardly any shoes he can fit into - with those he can squeeze on usually pinching as they're on the small side.
But, when sporting brand Under Armour reached out with the offer to help, Eric jumped at the chance to get a custom made pair of shoes.
Under Armour Robb Cropp, senior director of Footwear Development, met with the Kilburn family to take a 3D rendering of the teenager’s feet on Sunday, March 26.
Robb took a mold which would go on to be used to make a shoe “from the ground up,” Cropp said.
Now, Eric has a six- to eight-week wait for his special shoes and just in time for the football season, Under Armour have also offered to make him cleats.
Eric Jr.’s mother, said Under Armour changed the her son’s life by reaching out and being willing to help.
Speaking about the shoe, Under Armour rep said the trainer will be the largest it has ever made.
He said: " It’s the right thing to do to help out. We wanted to make sure that Eric had cleats to be able to play and perform on the field and then also I knew we need to make him some shoes that he could wear around town and just do what every person should be able to do.”
Kilburn said: " I just feel like a huge weight has been dropped off of my shoulders. This was the first step in getting me some shoes.”
Now, his mum Rebecca Kilburn hopes to start a nonprofit to help other families that are having similar struggles.
A Facebook page that she and a family friend started called the “Big Shoe Network” already has more than 1,500 members.
The family have also raised more than $23,000 on GoFundMe with the money to be used to create a fund account for Kilburn Jr. to purchase shoes and clothes in his size through adulthood.
