A GRIEVING family are preparing to take the emotional first steps together to walk the same path their much-loved mother did throughout her life.

Keta Hansen was just 47 was she died six months ago from Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The mother-of-two had lived with the rare condition that affects the brain and nerves for five years.

Despite knowing the disease would lead to her death, the Hartlepool-born woman continued to inspire her friends and loved ones, including her husband, Kevin, and her two teenage daughters, Hebe, 17, and Violet, 15.

Now they have agreed to take on a journey in memory of Keta, retracing the steps of her life on a 350-mile walk from County Durham to Surrey.

Mr Hansen said: “Living with MND is the toughest of physical and mental challenges, but no matter what this terrible and debilitating disease threw at her Keta never moaned or felt sorry for herself.

"Instead she always thought of others and made the best of every situation with a smile and a wicked sense of humour. Her selflessness was truly astonishing. We miss her terribly.

“Keta was a huge inspiration to everyone who met her and inspired us as a family along with many of her friends to complete several fundraising challenges over recent years.

"This year, having sadly lost her in January, we were desperate to embark on a particularly difficult challenge in her memory, so we can raise awareness, involve as many people as possible and raise as much money as we can.”

The family plan to cover more than 23 miles per day, starting in Hartlepool on July 23 where Keta was born, before taking in Ingleby Barwick, Hutton Rudby and Hutton Sessay, in North Yorkshire.

Keen walkers from the North-East are invited to join the trio on their journey for as long or as little as they want.

The Hansen's will continue on to Oxford, where Keta was at university and where she met her husband, then to Battersea, where their children were born, before arriving in Surrey, where the family has lived for the past seven years.

Her husband and two teenage daughters have already raised more than £150,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/streethansenfamily