You can't walk in someone else's shoes. And these are shoes you wouldn't want to walk in.'It's not that bad, it's just different,' said Reagan Campos, a 6-year
Ohio State coaches wore sneakers designed by young patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital to raise awareness for pediatric cancer during their win over Penn State. "It's not that bad, it's just different," said Reagan Campos, a 6-year-old battling leukemia.
But this week, during the Coaches vs Cancer week in NCAA Men's Basketball, the Ohio State coaches are trying to understand what it's like to walk in the shoes of Pediatric Cancer Patients. "When you spend time with a little kid who’s got to come to Columbus once a week to get chemo treatment – I think I’m tough? That’s real toughness," said head coach Jake Diebler. The coaches wore sneakers designed by young patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital to raise awareness for pediatric cancer during their win over Penn State on Monday, and again on Saturday when the team plays at Wisconsin. Ohio State assistant coach Luke Simons brought the idea with him from Baylor. "My closest friend from back home, his niece, young niece, was going through cancer. And she wanted to be some sort of designer," Simons said. 11 patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital contributed designs this season featuring shapes and motivational messages. The coaches even visited the hospital to meet their young designers, bringing joy and distraction to the children. "You start to see the impact and the opportunity that we have to bring a little bit of joy or even just a little bit of activity to take their mind off of, you know, what they're going through," Simons said. Reagan Campos and her family travel from Lima to Columbus to receive treatments. She was diagnosed with leukemia in October of 2025. "She wasn't herself. And then that's what it was, the leukemia, because it attacks real fast," said Reagan's mother, Hannah Weekly. "It was a pretty big shock. One minute she was a perfectly healthy kid and then the next she's, she's got cancer." Hannah said the project was a fun distraction for Reagan, who wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. Reagan and her family were also invited to watch the Buckeyes beat the Nittany Lions from a suite. "For her to be able to design the shoes and then come to the game and just have fun and see a fun experience out of all of this, I think that definitely helps her with everything," said Weekly. "She'll be able to look back and think of the fun things more than the bad moments." The coaches acknowledge they can't truly walk in the children's shoes, but wearing them serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience these kids display in their fight against cancer. "You look down at your shoes at pregame or in the middle of a game or post game, and you start to realize what's really important out there," Simons said. "It makes you want to really fight the same way that they're fighting in their battle."The Buckeyes will continue to wear the custom sneakers in their game tomorrow at Wisconsin, with tip-off set for 2 p.m. Through the Coaches vs. Cancer partnership, NCAA basketball coaches have raised over $179 million for the American Cancer Society.LIST: Snow emergency levels, closings, delays in Central Ohio Cold Weather and Snow Advisory remains in effect this morning and afternoon with wind chill values of -15 to -10 possible. Stay with us on this story.Snow, ice causing car troubles for Central Ohio driversBooking video of surgeon charged in ex-wife's murder released by jail
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