The story of a Cockermouth woman's leukaemia diagnosis is featured in an art installation in London to mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month.

Alison Park, 48, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2013 is one of 104 patients chosen from across the UK, to have their story told as part of the installation in Paternoster Square.

It represents the 104 people who are diagnosed with blood cancer daily in the UK, raising awareness and making their experiences visible by telling their individual stories.

Alison, who is a patient ambassador for blood cancer research charity Bloodwise, said: “I was a busy mum and primary school teacher and had started to feel tired around January 2013.

"I had a chest infection in March and after having some antibiotics I continued to slowly deteriorate. I just put most of it down to being busy at home and work.

“When the Easter holidays came I thought I would have enough time off to recover. It never happened and when it got to the point when I could hardly get to the top of my stairs without having a rest, I finally returned to the doctors.

"A blood test was taken at around lunchtime and by 5pm I was in an ambulance on my way to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

“To say we were shocked would be a huge understatement, but the staff were amazing. I spent six months in hospital and was lucky enough to find a donor for a bone marrow transplant.

"My transplant was on 11 September 2013 - a date I will never forget.”

Alison’s name, constructed to her exact height, with a summary of her blood cancer experience, features in the installation alongside those of other patients and plinths highlighting facts about blood cancer.

Pharmaceutical company Janssen commissioned artist Paul Cocksedge to create the installation, which can be visited by the public until September 30.

Next to St Paul’s Cathedral, it marks the launch of the Make Blood Cancer Visible campaign, supported by Bloodwise and eight other blood cancer charities and patient support groups.

Alison said: “When you're first diagnosed all you can see is the dangers that face you. On my first day in hospital my professor gave me some great advice - get up and face the day even on your darkest days.

"I did and here I am. It isn't an easy journey and I'm not there yet but take it one day at a time and always try to keep hopeful.

"Until I was diagnosed I didn’t realise how many people were affected by blood cancer and the devastating impact on both you and your family.

“Thirty years ago most people didn’t survive these types of cancer and through raising awareness and research more people are surviving with less devastating side effects from treatment.

"This installation brings a personal touch. It is an amazing work of art that encourages the public to interact and I hope it encourages the people to talk about blood cancer and find out more.”