FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             Contact: Tom Lima

June 29th, 2025                                                          Director of Media and Broadcast Operations

                                                                                   By Juliana DiCenso- Executive Assistant General Manager

                                                                                    (401) 824-6314 - broadcast@newportgulls.com

NEWPORT, RI- Newport This Week and the Newport Gulls are partnering to support one of our own community members, Jake Cathers. Jake was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and undergoes chemotherapy treatments weekly at Newport Hospital. Jake is a resident of Middletown with his wife, Leslie, and their three children: Jackson, Merritt, and Georgia. He is a graduate of Rogers High School and Rhode Island College. Jake, along with his wife Leslie, own and operate four retail stores in Newport. These stores have won multiple years of recognition for Best of Newport and Best of RI in Newport Life Magazine and Rhode Island Monthly, due in part to the stores’ active participation in local charities fundraising including Star Kids, Newport Hospital, Child & Family Services, Lucy’s Hearth, and more. Additionally, Jake manages social media pages and occasionally writes content for Newport This Week. He also writes a blog about his experiences parenting, specifically sharing anecdotes about parenthood and his special needs son, Jackson, who has a rare genetic disorder called Angelman’s Syndrome. He is nonverbal and struggles with global developmental delay. Jake has been an active member in his community throughout his life, some of which include:

Newport County Regional Special Education Local Advisory Committee
Middletown Prevention Coalition - Board Chair
Newport Life Magazine Groundbreaker Award Recipient
Women's Resource Center - Men Who Make a Difference Honoree
Middletown Little League - Girls Softball Coach
Unified Volleyball – Coach - Middletown High School
Head Coach - Girls Softball - Gaudet Middle School
Coach - Girls Softball - Middletown High School
Coach - Girls Tennis - Middletown High School

The Newport Gulls & Newport This Week are honored and excited to be supporting Jake & his family in this fight. The Newport Gulls have set up a GoFundMe, along with Jake Cathers wristbands for sale, to support Jake & his family, with all proceeds going directly to the family as they navigate this new challenge. Friday, July 25th at 6:35pm Newport This Week and the Gulls are hosting Jake Cathers Night, where all proceeds raised during the game will be donated to the family as well. Below you will find a link to the GoFundMe, and a link to the wristbands on the Newport Gulls website.

https://gofund.me/1f9751dd

https://newport-gulls-ltd.square.site/?shipping=true&item=193 - 12