Financial services boss makes a splash for charity

The managing director of a north-east financial services company is celebrating after making waves for a local charity.

Phil Anderson, of Phil Anderson Financial Services, which was established in 2011 and has offices in Ellon, Aberdeen and Caithness, recently completed a swimming challenge for Diabetes UK, raising £500.

Mr Anderson participated in the Swim 22 national swimming challenge covering 22 miles of his local pool in Ellon - the equivalent of The English Channel, over a period of three months.

Mr Anderson’s business specialises in mortgages, insurance, investments and pensions, and he had to juggle a hectic work schedule around visits to the swimming pool.

It is the third time he has completed the challenge, and his second charity swim for Diabetes UK.

In 2015, Mr Anderson raised more than £1000 for local charity, and he is now training to compete in the grueling Ythan Challenge multi-terrain adventure race in June, and has plans to carry out the Swim 22 challenge again later in the year to raise funds for Aspire.

Mr Anderson said: “I’m delighted to have helped raise more money for Diabetes UK which is such an important charity. The biggest challenge for me was finding time to fit the swims in. In the end I had to do 5.5 miles (352lengths) in the last week.

“My next sporting challenge is the Ythan Challenge next month, and I’m considering taking on the Spey River Swim which is outside, however I’ll need to assess if I can fit this around work.

Karen Moore, regional fundraiser of Diabetes UK, who also took part in the challenge, added: “Phil has been a great supporter of our Swim 22 challenge taking part in 2015 and again this year. He did a great job promoting the challenge and recruited a few extra swimmers this year. His support is very much appreciated.”