Hi everyone and thank you for taking the time to look at my page…

My name is Pav, aged 42 and living in Coventry for most of my life (which has been fun being a Wolves fan!)

In my spare time I manage and coach grassroots football teams at Coventry Sphinx FC and Brinklow Juniors FC… and as if that wasn’t enough to keep me busy outside of work - over the past year I’ve been on a transformative journey of weight loss, lifestyle change and a focus on health and fitness fuelled by hope, determination and a goal in mind to complete the London Marathon in 2026.

Why I’m Running

In 2023, our family lost our much-loved Benita (Binnie) to a tragic accident. She held a special place in the hearts of anyone who was fortunate enough to meet her and spend any time with her.

Shortly after her passing, I found that on her list of things to do before she reached 30 was to complete the London Marathon…it struck me deeply as I had always thought how amazing it would be to run the LM but never put my mind to doing it (being over 20 stone and never having ran anywhere other than to play football you can work out why)…

God had other plans for Binnie and she didn’t have the chance to complete this off her list but the seeds were sown and over time I knew I had to take up the mantle and complete this for Binnie, for myself and anyone else who ever dared to dream big and push themselves outside of their comfort zone.

That’s where my journey began and why I’m training to run the London Marathon 2026… to honour Benita’s spirit and carry forward the dream she never got to realise.

My Journey

Just over a year ago, I weighed over 20 stone, and taking on a marathon felt unimaginable and insane.

Having never ran outdoors in my life, one night I went out and decided I would run a mile..… I barely managed 400m that day and felt dejected.. but the next day I went again and ran further and that carried on... and within a few days and I put in my entry to run LM26.

My knees were shot from the pain of carrying so much timber and I reached out to Adz @AlphaCamp to help me achieve this goal and the plan was put in place.…

I knew it wouldn’t be easy but driven by purpose, determination, and love, I have taken on the challenge head on

You can follow my training and progress on Instagram @pavsinghdhesi as I continue preparing for the big day

In just 12 months, I’ve lost over 6 stone, reshaped my habits, rebuilt my strength—and proved to myself and everyone around me what may seem like impossible goals are reachable if you put everything towards them.

Fundraising for a Cause Close to Our Hearts

In Benita’s memory, we’re once again supporting The Brain Charity, a UK organisation dedicated to helping people affected by neurological conditions live longer, healthier and happier lives.

After Binnie’s passing, everyone came together to raise over £20,000 in her name for this amazing charity and her JustGiving page — Our Beautiful Benita — beautifully captures her spirit: JustGiving

How You Can Help

I am asking for your support to raise my target of £2500 for the Brain Charity. If you are unable to donate, please help by spreading the word, or cheering me on as I train around sunny Coventry!

Thank you for taking the time to read through this page and being part of this journey.

This means so much than about just completing a distance....

This is about keeping the dream alive

With heartfelt thanks,

Pav Dhesi