FRIENDS and family of a Darwen mum who died after a four-year battle with cancer are to take part in a cross-county walk in her memory.

Mum-of-two Jacqueline Kearns died in March aged 39 after a four-year battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Her husband Gary will join their daughter Maisie, 10, and son Ben, eight, along the 25-mile route from Blackpool to Blackburn to raise money for the Christie Hospital, Mrs Kearns, of Snape Street, Darwen, was a former pupil of St Edward’s RC Primary School, St Bede’s RC High School in Blackburn, and worked as a civil servant at Blackburn’s Jobcentre Plus.

Her sister, Sarah Fenton, 41, who has organised the walk, said: “Jackie was an inspiration to all.

“For nearly four years she battled this cruel disease and over those years it was such a rollercoaster, but with Jackie’s positivity and courage it, in turn, helped us to deal with it.

“Her children were her life and she ensured that everything carried on as normal as it could be for them.”

“She is greatly missed by family and friends. She gave so much, which is partly why we have arranged the charity walk not just in memory of her, but in honour of her. One day hopefully there will be a cure for this cruel disease.”

The family is involved in an ongoing campaign to raise £15,000 in memory of Mrs Kearns.

Her mum, Jennifer Dawson, 61, said her only real chance had been a stem cell transplant. “Unfortunately, following the transplant she developed a number of infections and was unable to fight them,” she said.

The walk will leave Blackpool town centre on September 14, finishing at The Station Hotel in Cherry Tree.

To donate to The Jacqueline Kearns Hope Tribute Fund, visit http://hopefunds.christies.org/smartweb/funds/view/361.