AUSTIN, Texas, May 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A group of student athletes from the University of Oklahoma headed to Haiti Saturday to spend the week painting homes, renovating a basketball court, and working with children in Haiti. Their trip to work with Mission of Hope, Haiti (MOH) overlaps with a group of Texas A&M athletes who arrived last Wednesday to serve at MOH.
In total, 42 OU athletes and staff are on the trip, including basketball player Khadeem Lattin, linebacker Jordan Evans, gold medal winner for the USA U19 National Basketball Team Gabrielle Ortiz, and volleyball player Madison Ward. Players say they have learned a lot about life from the people of Haiti.
"Haiti is a beautiful place," says Lattin. "The people are resilient. They could have every excuse to give up, but they don't. They fight. Haiti is hope."
This is the 7th "Sooners for Haiti" trip to Mission of Hope. OU athletes starting coming to serve the people of Haiti in 2010 after the earthquake.
"The people of Haiti are in our hearts. Ever since our first trip, Haiti feels like family. We love it here and pray for the country when we're not here," said Jan Ross, OU Women's Basketball Assistant Coach.
Today the OU players played basketball with kids in the village of Minoterie on the court they renovated this week.
Last week, 29 student athletes from Texas A&M University arrived at Mission of Hope, including quarterback Trevor Knight. This is the first time the OU and A&M players have served together in Haiti.
Mission of Hope, Haiti exists to bring life transformation to every man, woman and child in Haiti. They are currently feeding over 90,000 children daily, educating over 6,500 students, training over 3,000 farmers, and providing medical care to over 30,000 patients.
For interviews or media inquiries, please contact Bridget Henderson at bridget@mohhaiti.org.
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