Why Karen Morgan is Completing her Seventh Cross for LifeFlight
Karen Morgan is a comedian, graduate student, and proud supporter of LifeFlight of Maine. This summer she is headlining a national comedy tour, while also working towards a master’s degree in screenwriting. In-between, she’s home in Cumberland, logging miles for the Cross for LifeFlight and helping to raise funds and awareness for LifeFlight of Maine.
Karen first participated in the Islesboro Crossing in 2019, where she paddled for a friend who was swimming. In 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Islesboro’s Crossing grew into the Cross for LifeFlight, which is open to everyone and every activity—hiking, cycling, swimming, kayaking, running, and sailing. Participants choose their favorite solo or team activity and complete their Crossing however, whenever, and wherever they choose during the month of August.
“It’s been nice to see the transition with how LifeFlight has taken the Cross to include everyone,” said Karen. The Cross is intentionally designed to align with LifeFlight’s mission of being widely available to people regardless of age, ability, and where they are in Maine.
Karen Morgan, an avid open water swimmer, swims as part of her Cross for LifeFlight. Photo Courtesy: Karen Morgan
This is Karen’s seventh year Crossing for LifeFlight, and each year has looked a little different. During the pandemic, Karen, who is an avid open water swimmer, says she and a group of friends swam together in Thompson Lake by her camp in Poland. “We created our own little Crossing,” she said. This year, she plans to swim and bike.
“I think it’s important to support this amazing service that we are all so fortunate to have,” said Karen. “We are so lucky to have LifeFlight. I feel very strongly that all Mainers need to appreciate it.”
Karen is originally from Athens, Georgia, but has lived in Maine for thirty years. Since her first year taking part in the Cross, Karen says she’s become more aware of LifeFlight, and the lifesaving services it provides for anyone who needs them anywhere in the state.
“I’m very proud to know that LifeFlight does so much in a state where there are remote areas, and you can’t get to everything. It is one of the things that’s cool about Maine,” she said. “I’m proud of our remoteness and uniqueness in this state. But our remoteness and uniqueness make LifeFlight even more important.”
That’s why this summer Karen is taking time out of her busy schedule to log her miles and ask for support from her community.
“I Cross because there are people who are alive today that wouldn’t be otherwise. There are people whom this service has profoundly affected in a positive way,” said Karen. “I Cross for the people who are the supporters, the staff, the nurses and the pilots and the doctors. Those people are doing amazing work and the rest of us, if we can support them, we can come together for anything.”
