PMC 2024

It was a sucsesful weekend cheering on the riders at the Pan Mass Challenge. Scott, Honor, and I volunteered while Myles rode with the ‘Spin and Tonics’ team and Eliza joined team ‘Next Gen’. So proud of all the riders and grateful for the opportunity to support such a meaningful cause! See you next year…

I've attached Scott's second PMC letter below.

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A message from Scott Paton

Gratitude.  I have been thinking of this word a lot over the last month. Sometimes gratitude can be very shallow.  When something bad happens to someone else it is easy to be grateful that it wasn’t you or someone you love.  It’s human nature to want to avoid pain.  It’s a natural response.   When that pain does happen to us or a loved one, it’s also natural to be grateful when the pain stops. What’s more meaningful and more impactful in our lives is to be grateful for what we have, when seemingly there is no pain to motivate us.  Ideally, we feel grateful with no need for a dramatic event, we just see it in our lives and give thanks.  We treat every day like it’s our last, we appreciate all that we have and focus more on our good fortune than what we think we lack or want for.   

There is a saying by Confucius that “we have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we have only one.”   In the millisecond of my crash, I thought “shit, this is how I am going to die?” When I had my accident the woman in the passenger seat of the truck I collided with came out and held my hand.  My wife and children were in the ER before I arrived, and I my wife took my’ hand and shared with them how impactful that touch was to keep me breathing and try to settle my heart and my pain.  While I was still in the ER I asked my daughter, Honor, to call the woman and thank her.  My daughter remembered that.  The weekend after I was released from the hospital, Honor, was a lifeguard at the Nantucket Triathlon.  A man my age had a heart attack during the swim and she and her colleagues were first on the scene.  As they frantically paddled the man to shore, she held his hand. She tried to give to him what had been given to her father.  Despite her and her colleague’s efforts, she was not able to save him.  He was my age; he was pale and lifeless like when I was rolled into the ER. He was a father and a husband and in the snap of a moment he was gone. I am here, with my family volunteering and riding in the Pan Mass Challenge, and that poor man is gone.  Two close friends were with loved ones in the Brigham ICU at the same time I was, and both lost their loved ones.  That week I also learned that my dear friend, Rob Dreier’s lovely wife Ginger, whom I dedicated my ride to last year, lost her battle with cancer.  I am still trying to make sense of the last 4 weeks.  I am so sorry for all my friends’ losses. 

I am still trying to find appreciation and gratitude for all I have, which I do, but more so to ensure I never take it for granted.   To tattoo across my corneas so I always carry it with me, and I wake each day with that deep appreciation for what I have, because I know in that instant, I know, I would do anything not to lose it. 

The Pan Mass is all about gratitude.  The gratitude of people lining the street thanking riders. Riders thanking volunteers.  Young boys and girls in remission thanking everyone for doing their part to support Dana Farber that has saved their lives. My gratitude to so many of you who have supported my efforts and my family and my friends to contribute to this battle against cancer and, hopefully, to reduce those moments of pain and create moments of gratitude for many others. I have said I will ride the PMC until I can no longer ride.  I stick by that.  For me, it’s an annual reminder of how lucky I am.  Selfishly, I may get more from this event than I give to it.  Thanks to all of you who have generously contributed and who have shared notes and calls of encouragement and recovery.  While I am still learning, I am indeed grateful.  Thank you. 

We are incredibly appreciative for all your support. 100 percent of every dollar donated supports Dana-Farber’s world-class research and care. If you want to donate this year, and support my (belated) and/or my family’s ride, please follow the instructions below.

How to Sponsor a Rider in the PMC 

There are three ways to make a contribution: 

Pay online with a credit card by clicking on any of the accounts below (you can also put in my account and I will distribute) 

Scott Paton

 Kristin Paton

Eliza Paton

Myles Paton

Honor Paton

Write a check made out to Pan Mass Challenge and send to:

Scott Paton, 88 Chestnut St Boston, MA 02108

Just reply to this email and say “I’m In!” and I will follow up with you to take care of the details!

 Thank You!  

Scott, Kristin, Eliza, Myles and Honor