Fall Walk/Run Events at Greenwich Point are the Fun for the Whole Family – And Raise Much Needed $$$ for Charities
By Jenifer Howard
There is nothing better than fall walks at Greenwich Point Park — the beautiful views, the crisp fall air — and when walking (or running) can be combined with family, friends and helping a nonprofit organization, it is even better!
This fall, two of my favorite events are taking place at Greenwich Point Park — on September 24 fifth annual DART to the Finish charity walk and on October 16, the 17th annual Walk/Run for Abilis!
The September 24th DART to the Finish charity walk is a 2-mile walk around Greenwich Point that raises crucial funds for research and treatments for the rare genetic childhood disease Niemann-Pick type C disease, often called childhood Alzheimer’s. The event is organized by Dana’s Angels Research Trust (DART), a Greenwich, Connecticut-based nonprofit, which is focused on funding research into the rare childhood disease. DART was founded in 2002 by Andrea and Phil Marella of Greenwich after two of their four children, Dana and Andrew, were diagnosed with NPC. Dana sadly passed away in 2013 at age 19. But Andrew, who turned 23 in June, is doing better due to being enrolled in a clinical trial to slow the progression of the disease.
DART has been instrumental in being part of an NPC Therapy Accelerator program supporting the work of more than 12 companies currently developing treatments for the disease, two of which are in the later stages of regulatory review with the FDA. DART and the NPC community also launched the largest newborn pilot testing program in the United States at The Children’s Hospital at Montifiore, in conjunction with the New York State Newborn Screening Program, and is screening 175,000 newborns. This is the largest newborn screening pilot study in the U.S., backed by $11.3 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, industry sponsors and patient advocacy groups.
NPC is so rare that only about 200 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the disease. and only a few, including Andrew, live in Connecticut. This devastating genetic disorder robs a child of the ability to live a long, healthy life, often becoming fatal in the teenage years. But, DART is helping to change that fate. As a nonprofit organization, events like DART to the Finish, help raise funds to support pivotal NPC research — research that may also help millions suffering from Parkinson’s disease, HIV/Aids, Ebola, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders that appear to be related to cholesterol. To register for the DART to the Finish Walk, visit dartevents.org.
The October 16 Walk/Run for Abilis offers a family-friendly 1-mile accessible walk and a 5k run, plus music, dancing, Carnival for a Cause and a Bubble Bus and benefits the nonprofit Abilis. Abilis is a Greenwich-based nonprofit that supports more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families from birth throughout their lives. Founded in 1951, Abilis is a leader in providing meaningful supports to the community in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in towns including Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Stamford, Westport and Wilton. The organization has a long-standing reputation for individualized, high-quality care.
Walk/Run for Abilis provides an opportunity for family, friends and Abilis community members to come together for a fun morning of physical fitness and enjoy the beauty of Greenwich Point Park. Proceeds provide critical funds for Abilis programs and services that support those with disabilities. Walk/Run for Abilis is the organization’s largest annual fundraiser and signature “friend-raising” event of the year. Many who take part in Walk/Run for Abilis do so because they are inspired by a friend or family member with a developmental disability. Prizes are awarded for best outfits and teams are encouraged to create team t-shirts, buttons, hats or create their own banner to increase visibility, show team spirit and potentially win an Abilis creativity award! Those who choose to participate virtually, from another county, state or country, can do so and post on social media with the hashtag #walkrunforabilis. To register, visit abilis.us/walkrun.
