Instead of stuffing himself with holiday delights this Christmas, one student athlete spent his winter break assisting the Ignacio Volunteers on their annual trip to Kingston, Jamaica.

Neal Outland, psychology freshman and member of Loyola’s track team, spent 12 days during the break with the Loyola service group in the West Indies.

“We did a day camp the first few days of the trip … for kids between the ages of four and 13,” Outland said.

The rest of the trip was split between a Catholic hospice founded by Mother Teresa and Bustamante’s Children Hospital.

Outland began his service work during high school in his native Houston with a group that works with underprivileged Houstonians called Helping Hands. 

“I saw the same opportunity to do the same thing with the Ignacio Volunteers in Jamaica,” Outland said. “So I jumped on the chance.”

Outland, who runs the 200- and 400-meter dash with the Wolfpack track team, put in work with Ignacio Volunteers all fall semester, as well as the team’s weekly six hours of track practice.

According to Outland, track coach Andy Canegitta’s workouts are very strenuous, but have helped him compete on a college level. Canegitta’s work with Outland has not gone unnoticed, and he gladly took on the challenge of extending the same helping hand to others that Canegitta extended to him.

“If you are too busy to help someone, then your coach shouldn’t help you,” Outland said,  “I live by the golden rule.”

Fundraising was a time-consuming requirement to attend the trip. Outland raised money throughout the fall semester both with the group and individually.

“Asking family members to help raise money was hard, but worth it,” Outland said, referring to the massive program-wide campaigning of family and friends for donations.

Outland and the other Ignacio Volunteers left for almost 2 weeks of service on Dec. 27.

Even in Jamaica, though, Outland found time to exercise his legs, noting a two hour hike following a historical slave route up a mountain the group took with a local Cumiha village,

an ancient Jamaican cultural group. He also spent time conditioning with some of the kids the group worked with.

“I ran against some kid that was faster than me who may not ever get to run college track. It showed to be grateful for my resources.” Outland said.

“I saw how little they had and were content with it,” he said. “It motivated me to not take anything for granted.”

Lee Slan can be reached at [email protected]