Mike Schuster is a “walking miracle,” according to his son-in-law Jake Zojonc.

And, after completing a grueling 10-day, 49-state motorcycle ride for the second time in three years, his will to conquer cancer is unquestioned by those who know him and are inspired by his story.

Schuster, 56, has been dubbed one of the “World’s Toughest Riders” by the Iron Butt Association, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts dedicated to safe, long-distance riding. The group sanctions a variety of demanding rides throughout North America and around the world. Among the toughest is the 48 Plus! Challenge, which requires riders to complete a trek through the 48 continental states and Alaska within 10 days. Schuster finished that one in 2013. Then, two months later, doctors told him he had cancer.

“We weren’t sure I was going to live for a while,” Schuster told the Mankato (Minnesota) Free Press. 

The Minnesota man was originally diagnosed and treated for hepatitis A, a highly contagious liver infection contracted from contaminated food and water or from close contact with someone who’s infected with the Hepatitis A virus. 

But when doctors were examining Schuster, they found his spleen was enlarged as well. Further testing revealed he had large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. 

“The hepatitis just about got me, but we got over that,” he said. “Then the lymphoma, we chased that for four months before they even decided how they were going to treat me … the cancer mutated four or five times while they were trying to figure out what to do.” 

Schuster ended up undergoing some of the most intense chemotherapy Mayo Clinic has to offer. He was half-convinced that even if he did live, he’d never get on a bike again. 

But his wife knew better. 

“There was a time where he had a couple really rough sessions when he was going through treatment,” Denise Schuster said. “We were afraid he wasn’t going to make it. But I always figured if he did, he would get out there again.”

When Mike Schuster said he was ready to do the ride a second time, Zojonc didn’t hesitate to take time off from his job as an IT director to go with him. The two left on July 6 and returned on July 17. They stopped for only a few hours at a time in order to make the trip within the 10-day time limit. They motorcycled though rain, fog and more, collecting receipts along the way as proof of their journey.

“It was good to finish, because when we did it two years ago, I had wrecked halfway through,” Zojonc said. 

For Schuster, getting back on the road was symbolic of something much bigger. 

His wife said doing the trip a second time had been on his bucket list. Motorcycling is a Schuster family tradition, she added. She rides with Mike about 80 percent of the time, and often goes on day trips with him through southern Minnesota. Next month they head out to the Black Hills for Sturgis. 

“Some people like to go golfing,” she said. “Some people go fishing. We like to go cruising.” 

Only about 105 people have completed the 48 Plus! challenge and Schuster has now done it twice on the same bike.

“I don’t know if you could pay me enough to do this one again,” he said.  

In the future, he plans on taking shorter trips, with more stops, so he can enjoy himself.

“I enjoy riding,” he said. “It’s relaxing, in some sort of way. I forget the troubles of the world for a while. You can really enjoy the outdoors. You’re part of it. You’re not in the car where you’re kind of sealed up.”

The Mankato (Minnesota) Free Press contributed to this story.