After years of being on other people’s fundraising teams, Katie Cason is leading the fight against blood cancers by serving as one of 10 area Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Visionaries of the Year.
“It’s a cause that’s dear to me because I lost an uncle to lymphoma years ago,” said Cason, the assistant general manager at Columbia County Performing Arts Center, who is leading her team KC and the Sunshine Band in a series of events over the next 10 weeks.
The local campaign kicked off March 7.
Not only does Cason have a personal reason to want to fund raise, but she’s also inspired to help because of a 3-year-old North Augusta girl named Evie who is the honored hero.
Evie was diagnosed with leukemia in August 2022 after her mother, who is a nurse, noticed her daughter’s unusual bruising combined with a low-grade fever.
“They took her to the pediatrician and asked to have her hemoglobin checked, and it was at 5. At Evie’s age, a normal hemoglobin is between 12-14. They were then rushed to the ER,” according to a news release from LLS.
She was diagnosed that night and underwent multiple tests, weekly and biweekly chemotherapy, multiple lumbar punctures and shots. She’s now on long term maintenance and takes a daily chemo pill and has a chemo IV every three months, the release continued.
Cason said she’s been calling on friends in the business community to join her efforts. She’s working with businesses for special events such as Spin for a Cure at the Cyclebar in Evans at 1 p.m. March 24.
“I really hope to raise as much as possible,” she said.
The Visionaries of the Year was formerly known as the LLS Man and Woman of the Year,
Other candidates include Cori Pittman, Drayton Oswald, Justin Welch, Kelly Pickard, Kristen Carroll, Maegan Gunn, Morgan Fordham, Scott Wandless and Zack Tully.
Each of the candidates choose a mission pillar for their campaigns, and Cason has selected patient support and advocacy.
Country music singer-songwriter, Deana Carter, will be in concert Friday, May 10 at Columbia County Performing Arts Center. A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Reserved seats are on sale now starting at $39. Tickets are available online at
ticketmaster.com or at the Queensborough Box Office at CCPAC.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
