“I’ve always loved driving and when I gave it a go, that was it. I wanted to do everything I could to be involved. I even offered to make the tea!”
a process called ‘hip disarticulation’ which resulted in the amputation of the leg from the hip down. For Tracey, this decision came as a relief – a move that she described as ‘the best thing I did in 2010.’ Her feelings were shared by her family – two children and two grandchildren – who Tracey says took it all in their stride. “To the grandchildren, I am Nanny One Leg; in fact, I was Nanny Three Legs at one point when I expected to lose a limb and I didn’t,” she laughs. “They have grown up with me like this and maybe knowing me with a disability has made them all kinder people – they all give and give and give.” Team BRIT photography: Scruffy Bear Pictures
Tracey is truly on track Tracey Pahel is on a mission – and nothing is going to stop her achieving her need for speed. The determined grandmother from Coventry has set her sights on joining Team BRIT which aims to be the first all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24 hour event. And if this seems like a big goal, she is someone who has already experienced cancer three times and elected to have a leg amputated. Through its racing academy, Team BRIT supports drivers with a range of physical and psychological challenges in accessing motorsport. Team BRIT is just one of a long list of ambitions for Tracey, demonstrating how far she has come since her first diagnosis of sarcoma in 2004. At the time, Tracey was living in the US with her second husband who was in the United States Air Force. She was happy, fit and walking up to ten miles a day. When she found a lump in the back of her left thigh, it was diagnosed as an aggressive form of sarcoma which grew very quickly. “I had never even heard of sarcoma when I was diagnosed,” she recalls. Tracey was very poorly and could only have four of the six lots of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy after the surgery. After this, she was getting her life back on track. Just two months before reaching the milestone of being cancer-free for three years, Tracey was cleaning her 4 Connect Summer 2020
house in Florida when she found another lump. This time she elected to go to the renowned cancer centre MD Andersen in Texas. Again the treatment was gruelling but Tracey got through it. Two years later, she found another lump. This time she expected to lose her leg, but this wasn’t necessary; however, it did leave her with a drop foot. “In reality, there wasn’t much of my leg left, and part of my right leg had been used for surgery on the left.”
“After 17 years of marriage I felt my life was over and that I had to start again – back to Devon where I had been born and brought up.” Tracey experienced a tough couple of years which saw the end of her marriage and ultimately a return to the UK. “After 17 years of marriage I felt my life was over and that I had to start again – back to Devon where I had been born and brought up.” When she found yet another lump, she was treated at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter. At this point Tracey was adamant that she wanted her leg amputated after everything she had gone through. Once the medical team knew that she was capable of making such a decision, the surgery went ahead;
Remarkably, she was the first patient to have the US developed ‘bikini socket’ prosthesis fitted at the Exeter unit. While it is up to 200 per cent more efficient, Tracey says it takes more effort and energy to use. “As a patient, you don’t always feel that you can say I want more, or I want the best. I found the new limb by doing more research. You have to be your own advocate.” Tracey has a prosthetic limb but up until about two years ago she hardly used it due to how cumbersome and uncomfortable it is. Now she walks with crutches but has trouble with the use of her hands so spends most of her time in a wheelchair. Tracey is currently investigating the latest developments in the US in the hope that a new prosthetic limb is an option. Tracey’s resilience and positive attitude has stood her in good stead, right from her move back to the UK and her medical experiences through different career paths. Three years ago, she moved to Coventry to be nearer her daughter and has embraced a new life in the Midlands. “I bought a house at auction which was in a state, but I’m doing it up myself as a lifetime project!” The year 2019 was viewed as Tracey’s ‘year to start again,’ kicking off with a new-found interest in motor racing which has quickly become a real passion. Team BRIT was looking for female drivers and Tracey was intrigued by the idea when invited with three other women to Silverstone to learn more about what it takes to be a racing driver. “I’ve always loved driving and when I gave it a go, that was it. I wanted to do everything I could to be involved. I even offered to make the tea!” Team BRIT Founder & Team Principal Dave Player recognised Tracey’s enthusiasm and gave her the opportunity of a role at the Academy. “He’s an amazing man in a
wheelchair himself. Everyone on the team has things to overcome, which aren’t always visible, and everyone strives to be better. Everyone helps everyone else.“ Dave is hugely supportive of Tracey’s ambitions. “Tracey has been so passionate about driving with us and supporting our Academy and she embodies everything we are about. “We’re very grateful for the support she’s giving the Academy and we’re looking forward to supporting her in her entry into racing. “We’re making huge progress but we are yet to have a woman on the team and we want to change that.” Tracey is determined to rise to the racing challenge and make the team. “I’ve found something I like – I want to be part of the team and I want my licence. People get into a car with all sorts of disabilities and they come out with a huge smile on their faces. Sometimes we spin off the track, but we get back on.“ The innovative hand-control technology pioneered by Team BRIT for manual vehicles has only helped Tracey to feel like a ‘real’ driver again. “I’ve met some amazing people along the way. It’s a bug, a passion for me – something I didn’t know I would enjoy doing or be a part of.” Now she is continually up for new challenges – a Lake District weekend with 33 other amputees she had never met, doing things she has never previously tried. She also runs a coffee morning in Nuneaton which helps people to empower each other. Tracey has learnt to scuba dive, despite being terrified of having her head in the water, and signed up for a photo shoot to show a different side to her and her prosthetic. She’s also done a high ropes course despite a fear of heights. All this is as well as being an active member in the Rotary e-club of District 1070 where she is the treasurer and supports activities, including helping a school in Mexico, and fundraising for a 600 mile charity bike ride involving her children and grandchildren. As for the future, Tracey would like a prosthetic limb again and is currently focusing on her many new interests. “I don’t see myself as an amputee. You need to live life while you can – don’t put things off. I still have down days but my advice is to have that day, and know it is one day. Tomorrow you get up and carry on.” Find out more about Team BRIT at teambrit.co.uk Connect Summer 2020 5
