Last summer, Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Matthews faced every parent’s worst nightmare. Their son, Bronze, had a frightening reaction after being introduced to peanuts in his bottle. A rushed trip to the emergency room revealed a food allergy, thankfully caught early. While Bronze is now safe, others haven’t been so fortunate. Oakley Debbs, an energetic 11-year-old filled with light and laughter, tragically lost his life to a severe allergic reaction. His story sent shockwaves across the globe, sparking a movement to raise awareness about food allergies. Now, sports legend Eli Manning has stepped in to amplify this message, proving that even in heartbreak, there’s room for hope and change.

Back in 2016, the Debbs family was enjoying a Thanksgiving vacation with their relatives in Maine when tragedy struck. Oakley, one of their sons, accidentally ate some cake that contained nut resin and went into anaphylactic shock. On top of that, he experienced seizures and cardiac arrest during the ordeal. Sadly, Oakley didn’t survive. But his parents, Merlin and Robert, decided to honor his memory in a very special way—by creating “Red Sneakers for Oakley.” Why red sneakers? Because Oakley absolutely loved wearing them.

Fast forward to this week: NFL legend Eli Manning once again stepped up to keep Oakley’s story alive. Every year, Eli helps promote International Red Sneakers Day, and this year was no different. On Tuesday, Eli shared a heartfelt video stating, “Hey everyone, today is International Red Sneakers Day, which honors Oakley Debbs, a former quarterback and soccer player who tragically passed away at the age of 11 from a nut allergy. Oakley loved his red sneakers. In his memory, and to raise global awareness for food allergies, I’m asking you to join me.” So, what’s Eli asking folks to do?

It’s simple—rock your favorite pair of red sneakers, post a photo or video online, and use the hashtags #RedSneakersForOakley and #InternationalRedSneakersDay. It’s his way of spreading awareness about something so serious yet often overlooked: food allergies. Considering he was Oakley’s idol when the young boy was still alive, Eli’s involvement was incredibly meaningful.

Food allergies aren’t just part of Oakley’s story—they affect millions of families. Patrick and Brittany Mahomes’ son, Bronze, is an example. Indeed, 1 in 13 kids in the U.S. lives with food allergies. What’s surprising is that neither parent nor anyone in their family has a history of allergies. Finding out your child has one—and that certain foods can be life-threatening—can be overwhelming. Studies show that anxiety is a major challenge for parents of kids with food allergies. That’s what makes efforts like Red Sneakers for Oakley so important. Beyond honoring a child lost too soon, these initiatives raise awareness and give families the information and support they need.

Touchdowns and kindness: Eli’s true impact

Eli Manning knows what it means to give back. Over the years, he’s supported causes like cancer research and mental health awareness. The former New Yor͏k ͏Gia͏nts͏ quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion has been a strong advocate for Tackle Kids Cancer since it launched in 2015. More recently, he joined the viral Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for mental health. Eli’s efforts on and off the field haven’t gone unnoticed—he received the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2016 for his impact in both football and the community.

When Tackle Kids Cancer first launched, the scout troops, youth sports teams, and schools that came together to raise money inspired Eli Manning. Wanting to do more, he created Eli’s Challenge to help boost grassroots fundraising efforts. Whether it’s a bake sale, car wash, or lemonade stand, Eli matches every dollar raised, up to $200,000 each year. Indeed, showing that every small effort counts. But his impact goes beyond donations; he takes time to be there for the kids and their families, which truly sets him apart.

Eli also supports Tackle Kids Cancer through the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative, which lets players wear custom cleats to highlight causes they care about during games. On and off the field, Eli continues to show how much he cares. His commitment to making a difference is one of the many reasons people admire him, not just as an athlete, but as a person.