Racing for Hope
Facing cancer, Don Wickstrum, aka “The Fastest Pastor,” pursued his dream of racing The Pike’s Peak Hill Climb.
As I approach the starter’s box for the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb, I make sure everything is in order.
I say a quick prayer. I ask God to give me wisdom and abilities far beyond what I can do. I ask him to send his angels to watch over me and Gianna, my car, and no matter what happens, that I would do what he wants me to do.
Then, let’s go.
Living on borrowed time
I had wanted to race in the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb ever since I was eight years’ old. I remember seeing a video of Bobby Unser racing up the 14,115-foot mountain in Colorado, and I was mesmerized by the turns, and cliffs—how beautiful and dangerous it was.
However, racing didn’t seem possible when I found out I had colon cancer in 2018.
When you’re set with a date your life could expire, you know, you’re living on borrowed time. Everything gets a sense of urgency and yet, so many things don’t seem important. Yet somehow this race felt important.
A hopeful question
I asked my wife about racing Pike’s Peak, and we began praying. At the time, she was pregnant with twins, so she was understandably hesitant.
Eventually we both felt like God was calling us to it.
We didn’t really understand why until one night my wife asked me the question, “If eight-year-old Don would have seen a story about a guy just like you, accomplishing his dream, do you think it would have given you hope?”
And I said without hesitation, “Yes, absolutely.”
Then she said, “Then you are going to do this and tell your story.”
And so, I did.
The Fastest Pastor
I’ve never really chased fame or fortune, but I do like chasing goals.
Besides racing, I’m also an entrepreneur and youth pastor on the side. That’s how I got the nickname the Fastest Pastor.
In 2018, I was building the largest robotics manufacturing company in the country, and I was only getting two hours of sleep per night.
During August, I started experiencing pain in my abdomen and the colorectal area. Little did I know, everything was about to change in my life.
A surprising diagnosis
I met with a doctor who broke the news that I had colon cancer.
“Don, you are going to have to sell your business if you want any chance of beating this,” he said.
So, I and began evaluating my life and future—which might mean only living another year or so.
How I find hope, strength and peace against cancer
I was not raised in a religious home, though my parents were very loving.
In college, as an atheist, I sought to prove all religions wrong, including Christianity. I was shocked to discover the historical evidence, archeology, and original transcripts for the Bible. I had to admit, Christianity was true, but I wasn’t ready to commit my life to God.
That is, until one night while I was at my engineering job, working with a large manufacturing oven. As I felt the heat, I heard a voice in my head say: This is nothing compared to the heat you will face in hell if you don’t come to the truth.
This experience was more than just a warning, but an invitation to find hope through Jesus.
I fell to my knees and cried and surrendered my life to God.
Suddenly, I had this truth, this hope in my life, that has helped me through some of the darkest points in my life—including cancer.
Finding hope
With Jesus Christ, my hope is knowing that cancer doesn’t corrupt the purpose and plan for my life. Yes, I might die in a year, but it doesn’t mean it cancels what God has for me.
While my future is uncertain, I’d rather live in hope than spend the rest of my life being sad and miserable.
Which is a big part of why I race the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb.
Racing for hope
Because of a previous health condition, traditional treatment like chemo was not an option for me. After talking with my doctor, I began eating better, getting more sleep and pursuing wholistic and naturopathic treatments.
Besides focusing on my health, I also began preparing for the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb.
The race
My friend built me a car capable of speeds of 140 MPH—uphill. I had previously done some road racing, short track and circle track, but the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb was another level.
The first year I raced, there was a lot of buildup. I was ready to share my story about facing cancer and racing.
Then I crashed.
I was coming around one of the corners at more than 100 MPH, and my car slipped on some ice, or maybe it was fluids from another car, and I spun out and hit the mountain.
Crash and learn
The next year proved even worse. As I came around the double apex corner, I veered of the road and crashed into a pond. Somehow, I was able to walk away from the crash with minor injuries.
I thought the dream died, that I would never race Pike’s Peak again.
I’m not a competitive person, but I didn’t want my story to end like that.
Third time is the charm
The next year, after convincing the race officials, I raced again. The course was shortened, due to the weather, and this time I finished the race, which was great.
Building on this result, the next two years I finished the full course, including getting 13th place in 2023.
Racing has enabled me to share my story with the media, at churches, on The Fastest Pastor website, and also through the documentary, Chasing Hope.
I’m thankful to pursue this dream, but even more to share hope with others.
How the Fastest Pastor is doing now
It’s now been more than four years since my diagnosis and my health keeps improving.
A few months ago, I got my first negative test for colon cancer. I’m getting close to being cancer free—I’m believing and praying for it. I’m not afraid to die, but I’d like to keep seeing where this story takes me.
This Bible verse from Romans seems to capture not just my experience with racing, but also cancer: “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us (5:3-4).”
Advice for others
Cancer doesn’t kill you when you get a diagnosis. First, it kills your hope.
I believe that as long as you are sucking air, there’s hope, that God has a purpose for you. No matter what you are facing, God has a plan for your life.
For those in the thick of the battle, you may not think you are going to make it. However, choose to live in hope and be willing to receive and give hope to others.
If you don’t have a relationship with God, find Jesus today. He will help give you an eternal perspective and purpose in the suffering.
God will motivate you to invest in the lives of others, using your time here as best you can. Now that is hopeful.
For more about how to begin a relationship with God see Knowing God Personally.
To unlock the power of prayer see Asking God for Help.
For a 7-day email series on finding hope, see The Pathway to Hope.
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How to find God’s hope, strength and peace
