While most people spend spring break at the beach with friends or catching up on rest and relaxation, a group of OU Health Sciences Center students are going to Haiti for a different type of break.

Students will spend their break in Haiti helping current relief efforts by missionaries. Haiti was devastated by an earthquake that struck the country Jan. 12 and is still recovering.

The group was originally going to Peru, but changed plans after hearing about the earthquake and how much aid the country needed, said Diane Clay, OUHSC Office of Public Affairs spokeswoman.

While in Haiti, students will work with missionaries from the Christian Medical and Dental Association who are currently in Haiti, Clay said. Work will include setting up medical clinics, treating wounded patients and educating and counseling Haitians.

The association is a nonprofit organization composed of health care professionals and students, according to its Web site. Its aim is to “change hearts in health care,” which it does through global missions and ministries.

To raise money and supplies for the trip, the OUHSC and the association sponsored a Global Gala Saturday at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Events included a silent auction, musical concert, dancing lessons and catered dinner from Johnny Carino’s restaurant.

Tickets were $15 for students and $25 for nonstudents. The group also accepted donations of both money and medical supplies, such as aspirin.

Paula Meder, administrative manager of the OUHSC College of Pharmacy, said the event had a good turnout.

“It went well,” Meder said. “There were over 100 people registered to attend.”

She did not yet know how much money was raised from the gala event.

Overall, students from all colleges on the OUHSC campus will be going on the trip, ranging from dentistry and pharmacy to nursing.