RI Olympian Beisel Raises $133,363 for Cancer Research in Record Swim to Block Island
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Rhode Island’s own three-time Olympian Elizabeth Beisel made history on Saturday becoming the first woman to swim from the “mainland” of Rhode Island to Block Island.
Beisel is a native of North Kingstown and swam in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic games
Her swim raised $133,363 for Swim Across America, an organization raising funds for cancer research and treatment. You can donate HERE
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What motivated her for the record swim?
Read Beisel’s story:
Last December, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. While this news was shocking, our family remained nothing but hopeful that my dad would beat this horrible disease. He remained hopeful too, maybe even more so than the rest of us. After witnessing the pain and suffering my dad was enduring and how quickly his quality of life deteriorated, I felt the overwhelming need to help not just my dad, but anyone and everyone battling this dreadful disease.
I figured with my swimming platform, the most impactful way I could help would be through a charity swim with Swim Across America. I chose to swim from Pt. Judith to Block Island, something that I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl. I viewed my swim as an exciting, impactful event that would give my dad something to look forward to, while also an opportunity to raise funds to fight against a disease that changed my dad’s life.
Just over seven months after my dad’s diagnosis, he passed away.
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