Purpose in every step: Richard Higgins’ Icelandic challenge for Cancer Research UK

In May 2025, away from the brokerage floor and the Monaco waterfront, Richard Higgins spent eight days hauling a 40-kilogram sled across the Langjökull Glacier — one of the largest ice caps in Europe — to raise money for Cancer Research UK. The expedition raised £98,000, far beyond anything he had set out to achieve, and it remains the challenge he speaks about with the most feeling.

Why a yacht broker crossed an Icelandic ice cap

The trek was never about the miles. For Richard, it was personal — a response to watching people he loves face cancer, and a decision to turn that helplessness into something that might help others.

“Taking on this challenge in Iceland was about more than pushing my physical and mental limits…it was a deeply personal mission,” Richard says. “Over the years, I’ve watched family members and close friends face cancer with incredible strength and resilience. Seeing what they went through, the treatments, and the uncertainty, the emotional and physical toll left a lasting impact on me. I felt compelled to do something meaningful, something that could both honor their fight and contribute to finding a cure.”

Eight days on the Langjökull Glacier

The Langjökull crossing is a genuine polar expedition in miniature: sub-zero nights, winds recorded at 90mph, and everything a person needs dragged behind them on a sled. Richard slept in a bag he freely admits was not fit for the conditions, and each day meant long hours over rough, uneven ground.

“There were definitely moments that pushed me to my limits. The terrain in Iceland is no joke. Endless stretches of rough volcanic rock, steep climbs, and icy winds that seemed to cut right through you. Every day was brutal; however, the last day did stand out as merciless. We finally reached the hut at 11 pm after a 22km trek + 7km walk when told it was only 2km away. Every part of my body was aching, blistered and tired. The beer I had, upon arrival, never tasted so sweet,” Richard recalls.

He is quick to draw the parallel between the ground under his feet and the reason he was there.

“The landscapes in Iceland were tough. Cold, rugged, and at times unforgiving. In many ways, they reminded me of the emotional journey that comes with cancer. It’s unpredictable; it knocks you down, and there are moments when you feel completely overwhelmed. But just like the people I know who’ve faced cancer, there’s also strength, resilience, and moments of hope.”

Six months of preparation

A crossing like this is won long before the plane lands. Richard trained for half a year to be ready to carry everything he needed over uneven terrain, day after day.

“I started training six months in advance. Long hikes with a 20kg weighted backpack, gym four times a week with a personal trainer, walking in all kinds of weather to simulate the conditions I’d face in Iceland. It was tough, but I knew I needed to be ready for long days on uneven terrain, carrying everything I needed on my back,” he says.

£98,000 for Cancer Research UK

The final total — £98,000 for Cancer Research UK — came from clients, colleagues and friends across the yachting industry and beyond. For Richard, the figure carries a weight well past the number itself.

“The number means so much more to me than just a figure. It represents the kindness and generosity of so many people who believed in this cause. It’s a way of turning something painful into something positive. Cancer has taken people I love and impacted many others close to me, and being able to raise this amount feels like a way to honor them,” he notes.

Coming home

The hardest part, he admits, was not the glacier. It was the return.

“Coming back from the challenge, I was on such a high. It had been such a powerful and emotional experience. But to be brutally honest, re-entering normal life hit me hard. It was difficult to adjust after being so immersed in something that felt so purposeful and raw. It made me reflect deeply on what really matters,” Richard says.

“This journey helped me see how important it is to slow down, be present, and focus on things with real meaning. Personally, it’s changed how I view giving back. It’s not just something you do occasionally; it’s something that can shape who you are. Professionally, it’s made me more grounded, more people-focused, and more aware of the bigger picture beyond just business.”

It is the same quality that clients describe in Richard across two decades of brokerage — a steadiness under pressure, and a willingness to go the distance. You can read more about his career on the about page, or explore his current central agencies among the yachts for sale.