Globe trotting mum-of-two Pia Eaves always went the extra mile for everyone - and now her loved ones are about to do 200 of them in her memory.
The 54-year-old died after battling pancreatic cancer last year and left behind an amazing legacy and plenty of happy memories for her family. Pia, who enjoyed successful career in international banking, was described as an incredibly positive person and always full of smiles and laughter - even in the face of her diagnosis.
Her family said that after the mum-of-two died, they wanted to do something to pay tribute to her as well as raise funds for a charity - and decided to do a sponsored walk with a Gavin & Stacey theme. Husband Simon and daughters Rhiannon and Emilia - along with friends and family - will be walking 200 miles from Billericay in Essex all the way back to their home in Barry.
Simon explained: "During her illness, Pia would cheer herself up by watching episodes of Gavin and Stacey and the programme became a firm favourite of the family. Following her death, we wanted to do something positive in her memory so we've decided to walk 200 miles from Billericay in Essex, (the home of Gavin and Smithy in the series) to Marco’s Cafe on Barry Island.
"Pia grew up in Barry and her family ran a number of local cafes in the town including Terry’s Cafe in Holton Road and the Softa Freeze Bar, now Marco's - the site of many scenes from Gavin and Stacey and Stacey’s workplace."
Pia Eaves, nee Armelin, was born in Cardiff to Italian parents in 1967 and was the youngest of six children. Simon said he and Pia, nee Armelin, were soulmates who were always destined to be together. The pair first met when they were kids - Pia attending an all-girl's school and Simon attending an all-boy's school before the pair went to both study at Swansea University.
The couple later spent time living abroad in South Africa, Israel, and Dubai and had two children together, Rhiannon and Emilia.
Simon said Pia loved travelling and was usually the first person to get on the dancefloor at a party or social event. She also had a passion for fitness, Simon said, having especially enjoyed her work as a "body for life" coach and as a bodypump, RPM and CXWorx instructor.
Simon said: "There are three simple words that sum up Pia and the impact she left on people – and they are 'Everyone Loves Pia' – simple but so true. Everyone that met her never had a bad word to say about her and so many of them have said those three simple words to me - 'Everyone Loves Pia'.
Pia was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October, 2020 and sadly passed away 11 months later in September, 2021 at the age of just 54.
Simon added: "It is horrendous that Pia has been taken away from us so early. Pia was more than a wife to me – she was my lifelong partner, my soulmate and best friend – I will miss her desperately. The world is a darker place without Pia in it but our memories of her will live on and her legacy will survive through Rhiannon and Emilia - I feel very lucky and privileged to have known her and share my life with her."
While Pia's passing undoubtedly left a massive hole in her family and friends' lives, they were determined to take a leaf out of her book and do something positive and also raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK.
Their epic 200 mile walk from Essex to south Wales kicks off on April 20. Alongside Simon, Rhiannon and Emilia, Simon's brother Kevin Eaves, Pia's best friend Donna Bliss and sister Paolo Matthews will be taking part. The team are aiming to complete the challenge in just 12 days - finishing on May 1, Pia's birthday and Pia and Simon's wedding anniversary.
They've set themselves a goal to raise £100,000 for the cause and so far have raised more than £55,000. If you'd like to donate, you can do so here. And you can follow their walk on social media here. Pia's family have set up a website for their walk too.
A statement on the website reads: "This walk is inspired by the BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey. The walk begins in Billericay where Gavin lived and ends at Marco's kiosk, where Stacey worked, in Barry Island. Pia was brought up in Barry Island and her family owned the kiosk throughout Pia's teenage years. Pia used to watch Gavin and Stacey all the time to cheer herself up, and she has now passed that love on to her family. The theme music to the programme was played at Pia's funeral and we will be walking in between the houses of Gavin and Stacey as a testament to her."
"We want to raise awareness of a terrible disease, raise funds for important research into early detection and improving treatments. In parallel, we want to make Pia proud of her friends and family."
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