COEUR d'ALENE - Derek Garcia is 27 years old.

He is one of the region's top triathletes who turned pro in January and coaches others.

He and his wife Shannon have two sons.

Last weekend, the Post Falls man learned he has testicular cancer.

He is not afraid.

"I'm confident God has a plan in what he's doing," Garcia said Wednesday, a day before he underwent surgery. "He has a reason for it. I feel like I just need to be willing to walk through the process."

Thursday's surgery at Kootenai Cancer Center went well, Shannon said. Doctors still have to do a CT scan and chest X-ray to determine if the cancer has spread, and decide the course of treatment, which could include chemotherapy.

Meantime, many are rallying around the personable Garcia, who grew up here and was a standout baseball player.

Fundraisers are in the works, an account for donations has been set up and a professional triathlete has dedicated her Ironman Coeur d'Alene race in June to Garcia.

Dee Fraser, swim coach who worked with Garcia for five years, said she believes he has the strength and support to beat cancer. He works hard, is dedicated to his profession and family, and has integrity. He's the type of person people rally around.

"He's pure of heart in his intent, in everything he does," she said. "What you see is what you get."

Derek, she said, gives her hope.

"You can count on him. His word is good for what he says."

Garcia, joined by Shannon and sons Gabriel, 5, and Malachi, 1, sat down for an interview Wednesday.

"I'm really optimistic about the whole situation," he said.

He said he has been contacted by hundreds in the community and across the country offering encouragement and prayer. He has heard from others who have beaten cancer, and said their stories are humbling.

"I know there have been so many who have gone through much more," he said.

Garcia, a devout Christian, said his strength and inner peace comes from his faith.

"It is the reason I'm so optimistic," he said.

Shannon, his wife of nine years, called her husband's strength "incredible."

"He really amazes me with his attitude he has toward this whole thing," she said. "He never once said, 'Why me?' or felt sorry for himself.

"That's pretty inspiring for me, knowing he is handling it so well. It makes it easier for me to handle it."

Garcia, an Ironman, was diagnosed with the same type of cancer that struck cyclist Lance Armstrong in 1996. Armstrong recovered and went on to win the Tour de France from 1999 to 2005.

Garcia said he wants to be transparent with his battle against cancer to encourage early detection, awareness and education.

He said there is no correlation between cycling and testicular cancer.

"As an athlete I have become very aware of how my body feels and functions and yet it took me six weeks to go to the doctor," he wrote. "I urge you, whether male or female, to make sure to keep tabs on the very susceptible and sensitive parts of your body that may be affected by this disease. It is never a bad idea to get reassurance from a doctor and find out that you are indeed healthy. The alternative is just not worth the risk."

Garcia hopes to return to training soon.

"Even if there's a way to do it between treatments, I probably will," he said. "That's who I am."

His pro career has been limited to one race when the swim was canceled due to rough waters, so instead it was changed to a run, swim and run.

"I'm a professional duathlete," Garcia said, chuckling.

"His first race as a professional triathlete will be after battling cancer," Shannon added.

A fundraiser continues through Saturday at Texas Roadhouse. Appetizer cards can be purchased for $5, with all proceeds to help the Garcia family pay Derek's medical expenses.

Professional triathlete Heather Wurtele said Thursday she is dedicating her June Ironman Coeur d'Alene race to Derek.

A fundraising website has been established through the Ironman Foundation at http://ironman.kintera.org/coeurdalene2012/derekgarcia

Scott Burkhardt, a close friend of Garcia's, said he endured some difficult years adjusting to the triathlon. But he continued to work and improve, and achieved his goal of becoming a professional triathlete.

"In part I believe that prepared him for what he is going through now with the cancer diagnosis, and from that we are all certain it is leading him to something amazing down the road that we can't even fathom right now," he said.

Burkhardt said Garcia has been training at a high level - 70-75 miles of running each week, 300-350 miles of biking, and 30-35K of swimming - and producing times that would place him among the best triathletes in the world. He was confident Garcia was on track to record many successes this year.

The cancer diagnosis, he said, stunned him.

"It doesn't make any sense," Burkhardt said. "But from God's perspective, knowing what he has planned ahead for Derek, it makes perfect sense. It only adds to the amazement of the story, and the blessings for Derek, Shannon and everyone else along the way that their lives will touch and encourage."