Nike has sought the help of the rapper Eminem to design and sell for charitable purposes eight sets (64 shoes in total) of 'Air Max' sneakers. The shoes are to be auctioned in Nike stores in the US and on the eBay site and the proceeds donated to the Marshall Mathers Foundation.

'If you told me ten years ago that I'd be designing this whole series of Air Max's, I would never have believed it. It's one of the hottest lines that Nike ever produced, so I'm honored to make my own contribution', the rapper said in a very enthusiastic statement he recently made.

But, according to Eminem, it's not so much working with Nike that thrills him, as the opportunity to give something back to society. The money from the 4-week auction will go to organizations that work with troubled youth in southwest Michigan, providing for them education and sports programs.

'We're always looking for new ways to try to raise money and awareness for the foundation, so when Nike approached us, we jumped at the chance. Who wouldn't want to design their own line of Nikes? And to do it for charity makes it that much better', Slim Shady said. And, as a plus to the Eminem-designed Nikes, the rapper added that he would be personally signing each and every pair that is to go up for auction.