Beisel fans drumming up Olympic support

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) - Family and friends are drumming up support for North Kingstown native Elizabeth Beisel's quest for gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Supporters have designed and are selling t-shirts to help finance Beisel's Olympic dreams.

The t-shirt proceeds will be split; half going to the local food pantry and half going to Beisel's family to help off set the costs of cheering her on as she swims for the gold.

"If it were my child I would be thrilled, the one thing about North Kingstown we like to support our local folks," said Mary Beth Theriault.

The owner of Needle Designs, where the shirts are being printed, tells us the shirts are a big hit.

Jack Bauer says, "We have only had the shirts out for only for twenty four hours, we have to print more today and I expect we will print more over the weekend."

Beisel, who recently finished her sophomore year at the University of Florida, will compete in the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter backstroke in just a few weeks at the Olympics in London.

T-shirts in support of Beisel can be purchased at the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce, Dave's Marketplace in Wickford, R.I., Twin Willows in Narragansett and Needle Designs in North Kingstown.