Pro BMX Racer Visits Fresno School, Imparts Important Life Lessons

By KSEE News

March 12, 2013 Updated Mar 12, 2013 at 7:35 PM PDT

Students at Sunnyside High School got a special visit Tuesday morning.

Pro BMX racer and motivational speaker Tony Hoffman spoke to students about his success, failure, and redemption.

Hoffman is a Fresno native, and began his racing career in the valley. By 2001, he was one of the top BMX racers in his age group. But drugs got in the way and landed him in prison for two years.

He says it was a long road back, but his experience proves an important lesson. "I always tell kids you just gotta believe. If you're out of hope, all it takes is belief in yourself to change that thinking, and you can get whatever you want in life."

Hoffman has since returned to racing. He has a nonprofit organization, the Freewheel Project, that keeps kids out of trouble by promoting a drug free lifestyle.

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