Today we’d like to introduce you to Keri Campbell Seay.
Keri, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Charleston. My father raised me with the kind of steady love that shaped every part of my life. He taught me to work hard, show up for people, and make something meaningful out of whatever life hands you.
My path never followed a straight line. I earned licenses as a cosmetologist, in real estate, insurance and financial services, and even a degree in cybersecurity. I built an event planning and rental company from the ground up. I said yes to opportunities, learned fast, and created my own lane. I did it while raising my family and staying rooted in faith.
Everything changed when my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I left my career to care for him. Those months showed me how difficult it is for patients and caregivers to navigate the medical world. I watched people fall through the cracks. I watched my father worry about patients who didn’t have support. Together, we decided to build something that would change that.
We created Islands Against Cancer. It started with a simple idea. No patient should walk this alone. Today, the organization gives patients loaner iPads, listening devices, one-on-one IT Advocacy, real-time navigation of medical portals, and personal support at appointments. We help patients understand their care, stay organized, and feel seen. We bring technology and humanity together in a way that lifts the burden for families.
After my father passed in 2022, I kept going. This work carries his legacy. It also carries the voices of every patient who has trusted us. I expanded my event business, wrote books to help patients and caregivers, and built a network of partners who believe in community and compassion.
My story is simple. I build things that serve people. I stand up for those who need someone in their corner. I follow the path God puts in front of me. And I keep my father’s spirit close in every decision I make.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No. It has not been a smooth road, but it has been a purposeful one.
I built my event companies, Keri Seay Events and Seay Event Rentals, from the ground up. I started with small gatherings, learned every detail of the industry, and grew both businesses through hard work and reputation. When my father was diagnosed with cancer, those businesses became more than a livelihood. They became a financial anchor. I used them to fund what would become Islands Against Cancer. I still donate proceeds from my events to support the nonprofit. Those companies allow me to keep our programs running and our services free for patients.
Creating Islands Against Cancer was another challenge entirely. I built it from scratch. Every program. Every workflow. Every piece of technology. Every patient-facing service. No template existed for what we do. I developed the IT Advocacy model, the digital navigation support, the appointment coordination, and the real-time summaries that help patients understand their care. I wrote the guides. I trained our advocates. I set up our systems. Then I stepped in to work with patients myself, day after day, because I will not offer anything that I am not willing to do personally.
Running all of this at once has been demanding. Funding a nonprofit without a fundraising-focused board meant I had to become the engine. Building event businesses while building programs for cancer patients meant long nights and constant pressure. Grieving my father’s death while carrying the mission we created together pushed me to my limits.
But the struggles gave me clarity. They shaped my leadership. They deepened my commitment to stand up for patients who feel lost in the medical system. And they strengthened my belief that when you build something from the ground up, with purpose and integrity, you build something that lasts.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I run three organizations that work together to serve the Charleston community. Keri Seay Events is my event planning company. Seay Event Rentals provides tables, chairs, and setup support for smaller events. Islands Against Cancer, Inc. is the nonprofit I built in honor of my father to help cancer patients navigate medical care through technology, advocacy, and hands-on support.
Keri Seay Events is known for detailed planning, strong execution, and a personal approach that centers on the client’s vision. Seay Event Rentals fills a local need by offering reliable rental options for intimate events. Both companies help fund Islands Against Cancer. I donate proceeds from my events to support our programs and keep services free for patients.
Islands Against Cancer is the heart of my work. I created every part of this organization from scratch. I designed our IT Advocacy program. I built our digital navigation tools. I established our patient workflows. I work directly with patients every day to help them manage portals, appointments, communication, summaries, and care coordination. We provide iPads, listening and transcription devices, tech support, and real-time guidance so patients never feel alone in the medical system.
What sets my work apart is the personal commitment behind it. I build everything myself. I stay involved at every level. I lead with compassion and urgency. I take pride in serving people who need someone in their corner.
I want readers to know that my businesses were created with purpose. They support one another. They support the patients we serve. And together they reflect my belief that community, faith, and action change lives.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is impact. I want my work to make life easier for people who feel overwhelmed, overlooked, or alone. I want patients to feel supported. I want caregivers to feel understood. I want families to feel hope when the world feels heavy.
My father shaped this in me. Walking with him through cancer showed me how fragile life is and how much difference one person’s support can make. I carry that lesson every day. It drives how I run my businesses. It drives how I lead Islands Against Cancer. It drives how I show up for my family and community.
What matters to me is leaving people better than I found them. That is the standard I hold myself to in everything I do.
Pricing:
- Event Planning Services start at $1500 for Day-of Coordination through Keri Seay Events.
- Seay Event Rentals offers tables and chairs for small events starting at $4.50 per chair and $12 per table.
- Proceeds from events and rentals support Islands Against Cancer, Inc. and help keep patient services free.
- All patient programs through Islands Against Cancer, Inc. remain free to the families we serve due to community support.
- Custom fundraising and sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses that want to partner with our mission.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.keriseayevents.com and www.islandsagainstcancer.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keriseayevents and https://www.facebook.com/islandsagainstcancerinc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keri-seay-54463212/
