LOUISVILLE, Ky. - On Feb. 5, Spalding University faculty member and nurse Cayo Alba left for Haiti to provide medical services and disaster relief to victims of the earthquake last month.

Alba flew with three other volunteers-two of whom are graduates of Spalding’s nursing program. They are Emily Hawkins ‘08 and Rebekah Davis ‘10. The team of four was to fly into the Dominican Republic before being assigned to projects in Port-au-Prince or elsewhere. The trip was arranged by Edge Outreach of Louisville.

Funding for Alba’s trip is a combination of her own money and donations. Red Hot Roasters in the Egan Leadership Center at Spalding University donated 25 percent of its proceeds from Feb. 1-5 to Alba’s mission. All money raised will be used for travel expenses, vaccines and other medical supplies.

“For me it is important that I go because I have the skills and education to provide help to other in a way that I don’t normally get to,” Alba says. “I’m struck by the need for humanity and caring. I believe all human beings are connected in one way or another, and if one being can help alleviate the pain of another, to not do so would be such a waste of a gift.”

Alba will return from the trip on Feb. 14.