view . spring 2013
5
Kinesiology student Ben Phalavong is part of a unique
brotherhood
who emerge from their homes on November 1
each year with the scratchy or wispy first signs of a
“Movember” moustache.
“Movember is about growing a moustache throughout the
month of November to fundraise for prostate cancer research,”
Phalavong explains. There are definite
rules, says Phalavong, “First day of the
month of November, start off with a
clean shave.” Once the moustache starts
coming in, “You have to maintain it the
whole month. You can’t have it attached
to your sideburns or your chin—stand-
alone moustache, nice and clear.”
This dynamic young man does more
than grow in his whiskers, though. This
past November, Phalavong teamed up
with kinesiology professor, Dr. Dave
Andrews to run a Movember campaign
in the faculty, raising more than $1,000.
Says Andrews, “For a month, it’s an easy thing to raise funds for
a really good cause and have some fun doing it.”
Phalavong’s enthusiasm knew few bounds, says Tiffany
Martindale, the kinesiology program’s undergraduate co-ordinator.
“He sold false moustaches for those who didn’t want to grow a
moustache, but who still wished to be a part of it. He also had set
up a website and a booth in the HK building atrium.”
The campaign’s success was partially rooted in the sense of
community that HK fosters in its students, says Andrews. “We have
a lot of spirit here so it’s just another one of those things we do to
bring everyone closer.”
Phalavong’s involvement with Movember began when he and
his friends raised $4,000 for prostate cancer research through a
fun run in his hometown of Comber, Ont. “My friend’s dad had
prostate cancer, which was the driving force to start our group.” The
following year, the group expanded their efforts, collecting $9,000
through car washes and pasta dinners.
Launching the campaign on campus was a natural extension.
Encouraging community and school involvement is important to
him because, “I think it touches everyone, affects everyone.”
Phalavong started classes at the University in 2009. “UWindsor
has one of the best kinesiology programs in Canada,” says the
student, who chose kinesiology because it combines his passion
for sports and science. “That, and being close to home, it was a no-
brainer to me.”
Kinesiology is an elite program at the University. Phalavong,
now in fourth year, is enrolled in its
movement science stream—the field of
science as it relates to human activity
that involves the biomechanics of
movement, sport psychology, motor
development and memory, exercise
physiology, anatomy, ergonomics and
motor control.
It’s a challenging program but
undergraduate co-ordinator Martindale
says that, “Ben was a solid student who
has been able to maintain that all the
way through, which I think is unique.
Many first-year students often struggle
in the transition from high school. However, Ben came into
our program and hit the ground running, which is a really
great characteristic.”
Phalavong is also a leader in the Kin-One peer mentorship
program, which pairs upper-year kinesiology students with
incoming first-years to help them adjust to university life. “The
opportunity that I had to be mentored by an upper-year student
helped me a lot with first-year transitioning,” he says. “I want to
extend the same help.”
Phalavong is also active within the HK Society and maintains its
media relations. The HK Faculty awarded him the 2011-12
Dr. Richard Moriarty Award for his community involvement. “He
is a prime example of how well-rounded a kinesiology student can
be,” says Martindale. “Every student-initiated event that we have
going—Ben’s usually a part of it.”
Phalavong plans to apply to the UWindsor’s kinesiology master’s
program, studying applied human performance. He wants to
branch off into studying skill acquisition and ultimately become a
chiropractor. “I have a passion and interest for helping people.”
n
v
Jason Rankin is a second-year student in Digital Journalism.
STUDENT PROFILE
At left: Kinesiology student Ben Phalavong has helped raise thousands of
dollars for the annual “Movember” prostate cancer fundraising campaign.
BY JASON RANKIN
“MOVEMBER IS ABOUT
GROWING A MOUSTACHE
THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF
NOVEMBER TO FUNDRAISE
FOR PROSTATE CANCER
RESEARCH.”
BEN PHALAVONG
A PEERLESS LEADER
Ben Phalavong
