Press Release

This is a story of never underestimating the power of life-long learning. Simply by attending a seminar on brain health a local resident, Christine Farnan of Pittsboro, was awarded her dream.

Recently, Farnan attended the Cross Train Your Brain Symposium held at the University of North Carolina. Brookdale Senior Living, owner and operator of several local senior living communities, and The Institute for Optimal Aging, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of older adults, hosted the brain fitness symposium with a theme of Dream. Dare. Discover.

To compliment the theme, attendees were asked to fill out a "dream fulfillment survey," a short questionnaire on what they have always dreamed of doing. Farnan won, and her dream is to drive a race car on a NASCAR track.

As a result, Farnan is headed to Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, NC for a ride along on Friday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. Through the Richard Petty Driving Experience, Farnan will experience real-life racing thrills by riding in the passenger seat of a NASCAR-style stock car driven by one of the professional instructors. She will take a three-lap qualifying run at speeds of up to 165 mph.

"I am getting excited; I have even been practicing getting in and out of my car through the window. If the legendary Paul Newman, at age 80, could race at Daytona, if Lee Talbot, age 79, still participates in road races, and if former racecar driver Carroll Shelby, age 85, still turns Mustang cars into Super Snakes, what is there to stop me? You are only as old as you feel. Jimmie Johnson, watch out," said Farnan. "I want to thank Brookdale Senior Living for giving me the opportunity to participate in this unique experience. It is truly a dream come true."

"We are thrilled to help Christine dream, dare, and discover a new experience in her life," said Rebecca Smith, sales leader for Brookdale. "This is just further proof that living an optimum life is a never-ending goal."