When Lex traveled to Algeria a few years ago, he knew he wanted to do something with his passion for sneakers. Lex, better known as Sneakers Paradise Charity, had always been a huge sneaker enthusiast and has quite a few pairs in his closet.
After a trip to Africa, he asked himself, “Why should I own hundreds of sneakers when I could give them away?” So, that's exactly what he did.
Get to know Lex
I meet Lex at the Sneakerjagers office. Lex, 48 years old and a proud sneaker collector, lives in Germany but travels the world for his passion: sneakers. Whether for personal use or his initiative, ‘Sneakers Paradise Charity,’ sneakers keep him moving - both literally and figuratively.
“My passion for sneakers started at a young age,” Lex says. “One of the first sneakers I remember is the adidas Marathon from the 80s. I instantly fell in love.” Over the past decades, his passion for sneakers has only grown, along with his collection.
Among all the pairs, there has always been one silhouette that still excites him. “The Nike Footscape is still my favorite. People recognize me by my Footscapes. Right now, I'm working on securing an exclusive release from Japan to add to my collection.”
Starting the Charity
After years of collecting sneakers, Lex realized he wanted to do something different with his passion. “I had just had an accident when I went back to Algeria,” Lex explains. “When I was back in Africa, and saw how grateful people were for what they had, I knew I wanted to do something for them.”
Lex had already taken sneakers to Africa multiple times to give them away. “What does one person need with hundreds of sneakers?” he laughs. Over the past 15 years, the amount of shoes he brings has grown and grown. Where he used to take a suitcase, he now arrives at customs with hundreds of pairs.
“We now send about 2000 to 3000 kilograms of sneakers per container to a region in Algeria, Morocco, and the Sahara each year,” Lex says. “I travel there once a year with a group of people who want to come along. Some come from Spain, others from Portugal or France. I usually leave around May and get calls from them asking if they can join. It's very special.”
How it Works
Lex spends the whole year collecting sneakers and other items needed in North Africa. Everywhere he goes, the people he meets help with their contributions. People who have sneakers to spare give them to Lex, but clothes and toys are also brought along.
Every year, around Spring, the big move of sneakers and items begins. In the first weeks of the month, Lex checks which dates are favorable for the trip, and anyone who wants to join is welcome.
“People who want to come along do it purely out of passion for sneakers and the cause. That makes it so special. A few days before departure, tickets are purchased – this happens quite quickly.”
With the group and hundreds of sneakers, Lex heads to Africa. “Crossing the border with large quantities of shoes is always a challenge,” Lex explains. “Because we don't have a big name as an organization, we are stopped every year with questions about what we are going to do with all those shoes. Customs doesn't always trust it.”
Corruption is also an issue, and Lex has had to pay money a few times to get the sneakers across the border. “As soon as we enter the airport, you can already feel the tension. It's the most nerve-wracking part of the whole process.”
Community
Once the group and the containers have crossed the border, the adventure begins. “Every year, we go without any concrete plans or bookings. With a van, we drive through the desert until we reach small villages, where we talk to the locals who guide us further.”
Many of the people in these areas live in tents. During the journey through the deserts, the group is often welcomed in a tent where an entire family resides. “The gratitude the people there have for the little they have is beautiful. I think we, as Westerners, could learn something from that,” Lex says.
Giving away the sneakers is a feeling that's hard to describe, Lex shares, quoting a German saying. “In my language, there's an expression 'Geben ist Seliger denn Nehmen,' and that's exactly what it is. This work nourishes my mindset, my heart, and my soul. It goes beyond just my passion for sneakers.”
Although Lex does most of the work for Sneakers Paradise Charity, he believes it's a collective effort. Everyone shares the same mindset and love for one another, from the people who join him to the ones he meets in Africa.
“It's just like Sneakerness,” Lex says, “everyone is here for the same goal. Even the people there, who have almost nothing, invite us into their homes or tents and offer us food and shelter. Sneakers Paradise Charity is like a mutual thing; I'm just the coordinator of this mission.”
It's all about love
For now, Lex is far from finished with his goal. “I'm incredibly grateful that I can do this with the people around me.” He hopes to distribute even more sneakers, clothes, and other items in the future, continuing his love for sneakers through his initiative.
Additionally, he plans to raise money for a family in Algeria. “We've been visiting this family for a while. I want to provide them with a house, but I need a lot of money for that.” He's considering starting a crowdfunding campaign for this. “Helping them off the streets is my next big priority.”
After handing over dozens of sneakers to Lex, we bring the boxes to his van, which already has a load of collected shoes ready to go to Africa. It will still be a few months before he and his team head south again, but preparations have already begun, and the van is steadily filling up.
In honor of Valentine's Day, Lex shares a short message before we say goodbye: “I think we can all look out for each other more and take better care of one another. It’s actually very simple. Love is free.”
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we want to give you the option to donate your sneakers as well. Do you have unused pairs lying around that deserve a second life? Send them in or bring them by Sneakerjagers (Boothstraat 2a, 3512 BW Utrecht, The Netherlands).
We'll make sure they get to North Africa via Sneakers Charity Dropbox!
