Saturday’s DART to the Finish event, a 2-mile walk around Tod’s Point featuring beautiful views of Long Island Sound, raised crucial funds for the rare childhood disease Niemann-Pick type C disease — often called “childhood Alzheimer’s.”
Benefiting from beautiful summer-like weather, there were over 200 participants and over $160,000 was raised for research.
Andrea Marella and Dr. Cristin Davidson at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
There were over 200 participants at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Over $160,000 was raised for research. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
The disease is so rare that only about 900 children worldwide are diagnosed with it. Its effects are devastating, but today, there is hope on the horizon as a new medication was just approved by the FDA — something to give families hope.
Those advances wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of DART, which was founded in Greenwich after two of the Marella family’s four children were diagnosed with NPC.
Before people set out on Saturday’s walk, Dr. Cristin Davidson, a NPC researcher in the Maryland area, explained to the crowd that DART supports investigation of new small molecules to treat Niemann-Pick Type C disease, discovery and validation of biomarkers to facilitate clinical trials, provide additional data to support efficacy of therapeutics, and gene therapy to treat the root cause of the disease.
“All of these efforts will improve the lives of NPC individuals today as well as give younger generations a more normal life with reduced disease burden,” she added.
Since its founding in 2002, after two of the Marella family’s four children, Dana (1993-2013) and Andrew, now age 26, were diagnosed, DART has raised $6.5M+ for research, launched SOAR-NPC, funded NIH scientists and supported trials, initiated newborn screening pilots and therapies now helping children like Andrew Marella, who continues to benefit from advancing treatment options.
Town Clerk Jackie Budkins and Selectwoman Lauren Rabin were among over 200 participants at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Andrea Marella welcomed people to the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Phil Marella welcomed the crowd to the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
There were over 200 participants at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Over $160,000 was raised for research. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Andrea Marella welcomed the crowd to the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan and Meghan McCreary were among over 200 participants at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
State Rep Steve Meskers (D-150) and Dr. Cristin Davidson at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Philip and Andrew Marella with friends at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager DART Walk. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event took place Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
Andrea Marella welcomed the crowd to the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
There were over 200 participants at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Over $160,000 was raised for research. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
There were over 200 participants at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Over $160,000 was raised for research. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager
There were over 200 participants at the Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART) Dart to the Finish event at Tod’s Point. Over $160,000 was raised for research. Oct 4, 2025 Photo: Leslie Yager