When one of their colleagues passed away nine years ago not long after being diagnosed with colon cancer, staff at Newport Hospital began raising money to help fellow employees cover their colonoscopy co-pay.

This year, the “Cover Your Butt” campaign raised $2,700. On Monday, Aug. 5, three employees in diagnostic imaging — Kelly Blanchard, Sue Quinn and Rae-Ann Lawrence — presented a check to Crista Durand, president of the hospital. The money was raised in memory of their former colleague, Donnie Hittie.

The 9th annual Cover Your Butt fundraiser included an event at Cappy’s on Memorial Boulevard in March.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...