SO Coffee: Supporting the Community and Employees - @PAVSJOURNEY

SO Coffee: Supporting Community and Employees - @PAVSJOURNEY

At SO Coffee, we are committed to delivering exceptional service and premium products, always prioritising our partners’ needs. We strive to enhance the everyday journey of employees through initiatives like donations, product, volunteering, and community engagement.

Since September 2023, we have proudly partnered with The Consumer Helpline, a part of the TCH Group. This Sunday, October 6th, we’ll be cheering on Ashley as he takes on the Cardiff Half Marathon.

Ashley’s journey since before COVID has been a testament to resilience. He has navigated a range of emotions, from boredom to motivation, while supporting his family and embarking on a weight loss journey.

Our Company Director, Scott Otten, shared, “We are delighted to support Ash on his journey. We wish him the very best on Sunday and hope he achieves his goal.”

Join us in wishing Ash luck as he runs for a cause close to his heart!

Read Ash's story here:

"Prior to Covid in 2020, I peaked at my highest weight of 27 stone. I had no motivation, no desire or will to want to lose weight. Covid had its challenges for all, but boredom was one for me."

"My mother had decided to to a charity event where she would walk 10k steps a day for the month of May. I told her that I would go with her so she didn't have to do it on her own. Once the month had finished, she stopped going and I had decided to carry on. Before long, the walking was easy and started to get boring. So I thought to myself to add little runs into the route."

"Eventually, 30 second runs became 1 min, 5 min 10 min and then I was able to run the entire route! I started losing a bit of weight and wondered what would happen if i dramatically reduced my calorie intake. I never used to count calories, but also didn't care, i can only imagine i was consuming between 3k and 5k a day! I dropped this down to 1200 and went on a very strict diet. Before long, the weight dropped dramatically."

"I continued doing the route, adding slightly different roads to change things up a little, and making the routes longer. I did this until the Gyms re-opened and then continued my journey. By February 2021, I had lost over 10 stone in weight!"

"In April 2021, I signed up for the Cardiff Half Marathon for Prostate Cymru which was due to take place in October 2021. I had set myself a goal of 2:30mins. Unfortunately due to the further lockdowns, the marathon was postponed until the March of 2022. In December 2021 I hurt my shoulder playing football and struggled to get back into the routine."

"March came around and I began to panic! almost dropping out a number of times, even the morning of! Not wanting to be a failure.. I got myself to Cardiff and put my headphones on.. and just started running.. I was in pain with my shoulder and nearly gave up a few times! even looking for places I could "dip out" and not be seen. I continued trying to pump myself up and eventually got to the end which a wave of emotions took over."

"How does a guy who was 27 stone finish a marathon"

"To this day., I still don't know.. but I did it! I got the notification through of finishing and the time, 2 hours and 34 mins. I had missed my target"

"That 4 minutes ate me alive until March 2024 when the notification came through for the registrations for this year. Now is the time to do it and lose that 4 mins."

"I have chosen to represent the NSPCC because its such an important charity that does such good work."

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@pavsjourney?xmt=AQGzSuWW7GDkfQ73zmvVGycAMub4FKYoHNtzpArgBmQTA9o

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/pavsjourney?igsh=d2xqNWVmb21jNmh6