‘It’s very personal for me’: Creative Waco CEO helps install art at cancer treatment center after becoming patient

For the past 10 years, Fiona Bond has worked to foster Waco’s cultural and creative community as the founder and CEO of Creative Waco. When she was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer by happenstance – she found a lump while caring for minor injuries from a bike accident – in 2022 at the age of 53, she felt lucky that her treatment was found early and manageable.

While receiving radiation treatment from Justin W. Wray, M.D., Ph.D., Texas Oncology-Waco, Fiona was inspired to create a gallery of photography featuring local murals created by students in Creative Waco’s ARTPrenticeship program. The now display in Waco’s radiation wing, exam rooms and waiting room features art projects that Waco residents are familiar with – bringing patients a sense of comfort and community to patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Just like Texas Oncology’s patients, each new piece of artwork has a unique story. The collection of eleven artworks displayed exemplifies the practices commitment to local artists but also give cancer patients and their caregivers a touchpoint of hope and humanity in places where they might be having some of the hardest conversations of their lives.

The unveiling of the new photography gallery was covered by:

• KXXV-TV (ABC, Waco)

• KWTX-TV (CBS, Waco)

• KWKT-TV (Fox, Waco)

• KCEN-TV (NBC, Temple)

• Waco Tribune-Herald (Online)

• Waco Tribune-Herald (Video)

• Waco Tribune-Herald (Print)