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BARODA — Christopher Schroeder is used to overcoming obstacles. In fact, he prefers to leap over them.

The 18-year-old Baroda native and cancer survivor is gearing up to compete Friday, July 4 at the RedBud National in the SMX Next Scouting Moto Combine event, an event featuring the top prospects from the amateur level of the sport.

“We’ve been practicing every day,” he said. “We’ve been starting to do longer motos in practice to get used to the heat.”

Schroeder, whose cancer has been in remission since 2014, qualified for professional competition last month after 12 years of racing. While Schroeder will not be competing in the professional events this weekend, he looks forward to competing in front of friends, family and thousands of fans.

“It’s awesome, it’s a dream come true,” he said. “I’ve been dreaming of racing at that level my whole life and now that I’m at that point, it’s awesome. To be home on my turf, it’s even better.”

Schroeder’s love for racing began at the age of two when his parents bought him a dirt bike with training wheels. At the age of five, he entered his first competition. 

“I came off the track, I was crying and ready to be done,” he said. “My dad pushed me back out there the next day and I ended up winning.”

When bruising began appearing all over his body at the age of five, Schroeder’s parents took him to Dr. Ami Shah at St. Joseph Pediatrics. Not long before his sixth birthday, he was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The disease progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells, rather than mature ones. ALL is the most common type of cancer in children.

“30 percent of my blood was cancer cells,” he said.

Schroeder and his family made daily trips to Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor for treatment, which included daily chemotherapy, spinal taps and shots in his legs as part of his treatment for three and a half years. While his treatment was intense, he did not let his diagnosis get in the way of his drive to compete on the race track.

“I started racing around the same time I was diagnosed with cancer,” he said. “I would get treatment, I would be throwing up and I would put on my helmet and go race. I would get off and they would have to give me another shot in the leg. I couldn’t really keep down food or anything like that. I just kept racing through it.”

Schroeder credits Dr. Valerie Castle and her team for saving his life. While his cancer is in remission, he is not considered cured, so he has a check-up once a year at Mott. Their efforts have allowed Schroeder to focus on the race track, where he has been able to excel. On top of his many state and regional championships, he has earned top 10 finishes in nine consecutive events, including a first place finish in MP38. Open Pro Sport at The Abe at Lincoln Trail Motosports in Casey, Il. in April. 

For Schroeder, there is a lot to like about motocross but it is the community that stands out the most.

“I love the community,” he said. “I love the feeling of winning and the whole atmosphere of being around the track and my friends. I love the sport.”

While his race to the professional ranks has had its share of obstacles, Schroeder is both thankful and proud of his journey. He encourages young fans and riders to pursue their dreams with everything they have.

“Nothing is impossible as long as you put all of your effort into it,” he said. “Anything is possible.”