Man to drive classic car for asthma nonprofit

If you see a Marine blue 1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe sedan on Route 66 in the coming days, chances are good it’s Scott Christenson behind the wheel.

Christenson, 56, of Champaign, Ill., plans to drive from Chicago to Los Angeles, starting later this week, in remembrance of his niece, Erin Dennington, who died at age 30 in May during a severe asthma attack, reported the News-Gazette of Champaign.

Christenson is raising money for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, a nonprofit group for those with asthma and allergies. The goal is to raise $100,000. The website to collect donations is here.

He said the Mother Road journey also was partially inspired during his own health issues:

Earlier this year, while Christenson was recovering from open-heart surgery and knee replacement at a rehab facility in Paxton, the Champaign man began to dream of completing historic Route 66, the “Mother Road” traveled by millions of Americans since the 1920s.

“I was inspired by seeing a TV special about two guys in a Corvette driving up and down Route 66,” he said. “I thought that maybe some day I would like to drive Route 66 myself.”

The Plymouth has just 76,000 miles on it.

He plans to get going from the Windy City on Saturday morning.

“I want to talk to people and meet with folks all along the journey to California,” he said. “The joy of Route 66 is not the destination; it’s the journey.”

Christianson said his trip is a way to show the world that people with asthma can go on with their lives.

“Erin made me realize that life is to be enjoyed each and every day,” he said.

Christenson also is owner of Memory Lane Photography of Champaign. Maybe he’ll use his cameras to document some of his trip.

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