Friday, October 11, 2024
BY AUDREY SCHIEK
Contributing writer
GREEN BAY – Local resident Jeff Pagels, a 75-year-old Nordic skiing enthusiast, is a T10 paraplegic whose journey toward reclaiming an active lifestyle after a life-altering spinal cord injury in 1984 is nothing short of extraordinary.
Jeff’s love of Nordic skiing and outdoor exercise began long before his accident. As a weekend racer, he eagerly participated in local cross-country ski races alongside his wife, Jane, and two boys, Corey and Chad. Jeff raced in 10 Birkies, North America’s largest cross-country ski race, in this timeframe.
However, Jeff was cutting down trees on a rainy afternoon when a tree fell, hitting him and leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
“The most depressive part of the injury was I thought I could never ski again,” Jeff recalled. His passion for skiing seemed lost forever until a chance encounter during a talk on accessibility reignited hope. A stranger introduced him to sit skiing, a modified version of skiing tailored for individuals with disabilities, through Ski for Light.
With newfound determination, Jeff embarked on a journey to master sit-skiing the following winter season. He traveled to Duluth, Minn., where he experienced the thrill of skiing again. Fueled by his passion, Jeff pushed boundaries and designed an even better sit-ski with the help of friends.
This newfound zest led him to the Paralympics in 1992 in France, where he claimed two gold medals and even earned the title of fastest USA Nordic Disabled Skier in the world.
But Jeff’s resilience didn’t stop at skiing. From canoe racing to wheelchair basketball, he explored various adaptive sports, refusing to let his disability define his limits.
“When you become disabled and use a wheelchair, there are hundreds of things you probably can’t do anymore, but there’s thousands and thousands of things that you can do,” Jeff emphasized.
His persistent spirit led him to conquer new heights — literally. Jeff abandoned competing against others for solo competition as he turned to mountain climbing, scaling iconic peaks such as Mount Rainier and Mount Kilimanjaro, showcasing his unwavering determination to defy the odds.
However, staying active can be expensive, as the costs of adaptive sports equipment aren’t cheap, and equipment is rarely covered by insurance. Jeff applied for the Kelly Brush Foundation’s Fall 2023 grant cycle to continue his skiing journey.
The Foundation, located in Vermont, provides funding, resources and experiences to people with spinal cord injuries, assisting them in finding ways to enjoy fitness.
On Jan. 8, thanks to the support of the Kelly Brush Foundation, Jeff received a grant for a modern sit ski, reigniting his passion for Nordic skiing. “It will keep my active lifestyle active,” Jeff remarked excitedly.
“It’s exciting to help Jeff kick-off 2024 with his new Nordic Ski, helping him stay active and healthy,” said Kelly Brush Foundation Executive Director Edie Perkins. “I can’t wait to see how this new equipment helps Jeff enjoy life and make new connections.”
Established in 2006, the Kelly Brush Foundation traces its roots to a pivotal moment in the life of Kelly Brush and her family. Following Kelly’s spinal cord injury during a competitive NCAA alpine ski race, they embarked on a mission to make a difference in the lives of others facing similar challenges.
Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed over 1,700 grants for adaptive equipment across all 50 states. It also organizes adaptive sports camps, marking a significant stride towards its vision of inclusivity and empowerment within the community.
With the help of organizations like the Kelly Brush Foundation, adaptive sports have revolutionized, exemplified by stories like Jeff’s. Jeff emphasizes the vastness of the adaptive sports realm by stating, “You name a sport to me, and I’ll probably be able to tell you what kind of adaptations are going to let that person enjoy that sport again.”
The Green Bay Packers also have left a mark on Jeff’s life. In 1985, the team rallied around him, providing support by painting his house. Additionally, an individual Packers player went above and beyond, purchasing a racing canoe for Jeff, demonstrating the team’s commitment to their community.
Jeff’s life-altering spinal cord injury has never stood in the way of Jeff chasing his passions for exercise, the outdoors and his family.
In 2014, Jeff published a book, “Always Climb Higher,” which underscores the importance of perseverance through his life’s story and has inspired many. In Jeff’s book review on Amazon, a Green Bay local claims, “I was ready to give up having five major disabilities. I knew Jeff as a customer at our bait shop. Until now, I didn’t know his entire story. He has given me hope.”
Jeff’s story serves as a beacon of hope for anyone navigating a similar journey, a testament to the transformative power of resilience and adaptability. As Jeff says, “Don’t dwell on the negative. Dwell on what you can do, and you can do a ton.”
