Richard Harpham

Richard is an expedition kayaker and adventurer who has covered 5,000 miles in two years on 11 expeditions.

Along with his friend and fellow adventurer Glenn Charles, they have covered over 17,500-human-powered miles between them by kayak, canoe and bike and have a passion for inspiring young people and communities through their challenges. They will be sharing their experiences by giving talks about their adventures and documenting life and interviewing people they meet on their travels during the New York State Spare Seat Kayak Expedition.

He started The Big 5 Kayak Challenge and has canoed the Yukon, 1,000 miles from Vancouver to Alaska, crossed the English Channel (the busiest shipping lane in the world) twice and cycled from London to Marrakech.

He has taken part in numerous charitable sporting events including London to Paris cycle rally twice, Bedford 100 mile canoe marathon three times and competes with The Star Rafters on the rafting circuit. More recently Richard has organised various charity events including canoeing the 90 miles of the Caledonian Canal and canoeing 100 miles from Bedford to Kings Lynn, all of which raised considerable funds for charities including WaterAid, NSPCC and The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

He is an inspirational speaker who had a successful business career and also managed the Ghana Ski Team to the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010.

Before he embarked out as a life as an adventurer, Richard spent 10 years with Anglian Water Group (formerly Anglia Water) as a director of various subsidiaries including Managing Director of Morrison Facilities Management, growing it from £9m turnover to a profitable £25m turnover business.

Anglian Water Group provides water to homes and businesses for around six million people in the East of England. Morrision Facilities was responsible for the repairs and maintenance of social housing, covering more than 400,000 properties in the UK. It is a subsidiary of Anglian Water Group.

He then spent five years as a entrepreneur setting up Majorsporty, an online store and community which traded for five years before winding up in 2008. Through Majorsporty Richard has personal contacts with a large number of athletes, adventurers and sporting icons. He has also helped set up and organisation called Inspired Life.

Inspired Life has been set up by a core team of individuals determined to inspire people, organisations and communities through inspiring resources and people.