Saint Louis University student-athletes have a lot to balance throughout the school year: homework, practice, classes, friends and family, along with all of the travel to play their opponents. Two SLU women’s basketball players decided that it was time to throw something else on their to-do list: a trip to Haiti.

Billikens Ashley Hanlen and Mallory Eggert took a week off this past summer and traveled to Haiti to provide “an extra hand for those in need.”

The thought of taking a trip down to Haiti started a year or two ago. Hanlen’s aunt, Kathy Corbett, is a member of Healing the Children, a non-profit organization with the mission to bring children to the U.S. from third-world countries to receive special medical attention.

One child in particular remained close to the Hanlen family during the summer of 2006. A young girl named Lulu. Lulu’s family in Haiti realized that they were not going to be able to provide her with the amount of medical care that the Hanlen’s could in the United States. Six months ago, the now four-year-old Lulu became an official member of the Hanlen family.

Hanlen’s mother Colleen, younger sister Maddie and grandmother Jane visited Haiti during the summer of 2009 and stayed a week in an orphanage called Melissa’s Hope.

“My sister came back and said that it was the most amazing experience she had ever had in her life. I knew that I wanted to experience that same feeling,” Hanlen said.

The plan was set. Another week in Haiti would be the outcome for the Hanlen family during the summer of 2010. Hanlen started to talk about her plans with her fellow Billiken teammates. Hanlen’s story caught the attention of one of her teammates in particular. Billiken forward Mallory Eggert, a physical therapy major, wanted to partake in the trip as well.

“I want to go to underdeveloped countries around the world and utilize my degree in physical therapy after I graduate. So it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to join Ashley in Haiti,” Eggert said.

One June 20, 2010, Eggert, Hanlen and her family ventured down to Haiti once again. The group stayed in the same orphanage as the previous summer, Melissa’s Hope.

“Every day something different happened. We got to play with kids and take care of them,” Hanlen said.

“We would spend one-on-one time with all of the kids and teach them games that we played when we were kids, like ‘Duck, Duck, Goose,’” Eggert said.

Although many great and special memories were formed on the trip, there were also memories that made a different impact on the Billiken teammates. Hanlen and Eggert made a visit to another orphanage in Haiti, which was not what they expected.

“When we arrived [at the other orphanage], all you could see were children that were hungry … It changed my life completely. All they had to eat was one hardboiled egg. I was so disgusted. I couldn’t eat for two days after seeing that,” Hanlen said.

“These kids just wanted to be held. All they wanted was someone to lift them up and hold them in their arms. Then they would be content,” Eggert said.

The two teammates did their best to make their presence felt, in a nation that was devastated by an earthquake only six months before their visit.

On June 27, 2010, the group headed home for St. Louis, to a world much different from the one that they had just experienced.

“It definitely changed my views on life. We all need to be more grateful for what we have here and not take things for granted,” Hanlen said.

This upcoming summer, Hanlen and Eggert plan to continue their tradition, hoping to visit Haiti for many more years to come.

“We plan on making it an annual trip:  Me, Ashley and her family,” Eggert said.

For SLU students that are looking to make a difference and cannot make a trip to Haiti this summer, tax deductable donations can be made out to the Haiti Orphan Refuge/ Melissa’s Hope. Or you can also visit http://healingthechildren.org to learn more about what you can do to help the orphans in Haiti.

Hanlen, Eggert and the Billiken women’s basketball team return home Saturday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at Chaifetz Arena against George Washington.