Noah Willbrandt

Most people who have met Noah Willbrandt know him as a motocross racer.

They know him by the Amateur numbers 523, and 54, and Professional MX and SX number 544.

They know him as the guy who throws a leg over a Yamaha, lines up at the starting gate, twists the throttle, and gives everything he has when the gate drops.

But Noah’s story is much bigger than Motocross/Supercross.

Noah Willbrandt was born and raised in Waterford, Michigan, and began building his life around competing at the very young age of 4 years old, racing Snocross (snowmobiles) in the winters and Motocross (dirtbikes) in the summers. Years of dedication, sacrifice and hard work eventually led him to the professional ranks. In 2021, Noah made his professional motocross debut at RedBud, one of the most iconic tracks in American motocross. He went on to compete in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship and AMA Supercross Championship series against some of the best riders in the world.

Before turning professional, Noah had already established himself as a serious competitor. Noahs path to racing started with Snocross where he won many championships until the age of 12 when he gave up the snow to focus solely on Dirt. His amateur motocross career included competing several times at the prestigious Loretta Lynn’s AMA Amateur National Championship and many other national-level events, earning an Amateur National Championship win and #1 Plate in Schoolboy 1, a podium in the coveted AMA 125 All Star Series, along multiple top-five and top-ten finishes, and multiple AMA State Championships over the years.

For Noah, racing has never simply been about winning.

It is about the feeling of being on the bike.

The preparation.

The competition.

The people who have supported him.

The friendships he has made.

And the freedom that comes from doing what he loves.

But behind the helmet is a young man facing a challenge far more difficult than anything he has encountered on a racetrack.

Noah is waiting for a kidney transplant.

In December of 2023 Noah was hospitalized with extremely high blood pressure which soon was attributed to Kidney failure. There was very little warning leading up to this, and it came as a complete shock to all that he was born with a rare genetic disorder called Al Port Syndrome.

His kidney disease has changed virtually every part of his life. What once revolved around training, racing and preparing for the next event now revolves around dialysis, medical appointments, testing and the search for a living kidney donor.

In 2024, Noah returned to RedBud while awaiting a kidney transplant. He was there doing what he has always done—getting back on the bike and refusing to allow circumstances to define him. His story was featured by News Media, which highlighted the extraordinary reality of a professional motocross racer competing while waiting for a life-changing transplant.

That is Noah.

He doesn’t quit.

Motocross teaches you something very quickly: sooner or later, you’re going to fall.

The difference between giving up and getting back on the bike is a choice.

Noah has made that choice over and over again.

Today, however, Noah isn’t simply trying to get back to the starting gate.

He’s fighting for his life and for the opportunity to have a future.

A successful kidney transplant could give Noah the opportunity to spend less of his life connected to dialysis and more of his life doing the things he loves—riding, racing, working, spending time with his family and friends, and building the future that every young person deserves the chance to build.

And that’s where we need help.

Noah needs a living kidney donor.

A living donor could potentially give Noah something that no amount of money can buy:

Time.

More time with his family.

More time with his friends.

More time on a motorcycle.

More time to pursue his dreams.

More time to simply live.

You don’t have to know Noah to understand what that means.

You don’t have to be a motocross fan.

You don’t have to be a hero.

You simply have to be someone willing to learn whether you might be able to help.

If you or someone you know may be interested in becoming a living kidney donor for Noah, please consider taking the first step and learning more about the donor evaluation process through his transplant team.

There is absolutely no obligation to donate simply by being evaluated. The medical professionals determine whether someone is an appropriate candidate, and the donor’s health and safety are the priority throughout the process.

Noah has spent his life fighting to stay in the race.

Now he needs someone willing to help him win the biggest race of his life.

His next starting gate isn’t at a motocross track.

It’s the beginning of a second chance at life.

Please help us find Noah a kidney.

And if you can’t be his donor, please share his story.

Because somewhere out there may be one person who can change Noah’s life forever.

To find out more about becoming a living donor you can check out the website at 

https://corewellhealth.org/care-and-specialties/transplant/kidney

or call Noah’s Nurse coordinators directly at

Kayla Casey – Transplant Nurse Coordinator – Living Donor at 248-551-9852.

or

Rebecca Allen – Lead Transplant Nurse Coordinator at 248-551-4183