A double fundraising boost has rounded off the first year of operation for sexual abuse awareness charity SCARS.Saving Children and Revealing Secrets has worked with youth service workers and others to help them identify and properly react to child sexual abuse cases since it was formed in late 2011.Headed by Debi Ray-Rivers and Jon Brunson, the charity marked its one-year anniversary with a training programme at the Argus Group.Also this month, SCARS was given a boost thanks to the fundraising efforts of Bermuda Monetary Authority employees who chose the charity to benefit from a staff denim day.Further afield, local cyclist Richard O’Connell pedalled across the Alps from Geneva to Monte Carlo along with 16 friends some from Bermuda to raise around $5,000 for SCARS.Mr O’Connell and his team cycled for five days, covering 331 miles and burning up 12,959 calories during the endurance trek. He chose to raise funds for SCARS as he felt that the protection of children should be a priority for the community and he wanted to express his compassion for innocent victims by helping to raise awareness. The fundraising was helped by friends, colleagues and matching corporate contributions, with support coming from Validus, KPMG, Conyers Dill & Pearman and Mayflower Management Services.lUseful website: www.scarsbermuda.com