Day 2059: 21 December 2012 Friday, Madeleine Beth McCann

DECEMBER 2012

 

Day 2059: 21 December 2012 Friday, Madeleine Beth McCann
 

UPDATE: DECEMBER 2012

 

As we approach the end of another year, we’d like to thank everyone again for their amazing support.

It is both heart-warming and reassuring to know that after all this time Madeleine still remains in so many people’s hearts and minds.

 

This solidarity and commitment gives us great hope. Thank you.

 

The Metropolitan Police Review of all the material in the inquiry has been underway for over eighteen months.

 

We have been really impressed and greatly encouraged by the work which has been done and its findings to date which are revealing there are definitely many stones yet to turn. We continue to wait and hope that the Portuguese authorities will agree to reopen the case so that the many lines of enquiry can be investigated. As Madeleine’s parents, we won’t be able to rest until we know that all that can be feasibly done to find her, and the person who took her, has been done.

 

 

In the meantime, we will continue to do all that we can to aid the search for our daughter and assist the Review process.  

 

This year, Madeleine’s Fund has paid for: 

 

1. A 24 hour, 7 day a week telephone line to receive and capture information from around the world which may assist the investigation 

 

2. A small investigation team, including a Portuguese speaker to help with the above and with campaign activities. 

 

 

Since March 2012 independent ‘physical’ investigation of lines of enquiry by our team has been put on hold whilst the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) Review progresses. This has been to avoid duplication (and thereby unnecessary expenditure) and to prevent the risk of compromising any work, albeit unintentionally, carried out by the MPS. The private investigation team employed by the Fund continue to cooperate and work with the Metropolitan Police as and when necessary.

 

 

3. Part-time administrative support to aid the investigation and campaign to find Madeleine (campaign coordinator and media liaison) 

 

4. The awareness-raising campaign to ensure that Madeleine is not forgotten and to encourage the general public to remain vigilant. This has included the running of the Find Madeleine website.

 

 

5. Assistance from a specialist Portuguese communications agency to ensure that our message is communicated as widely and accurately as possible in Portugal, where support and help to find Madeleine is especially needed.

 

We are very aware that without public help it will be virtually impossible to find Madeleine. It would have been incredibly difficult for us to have maintained a search for her this long without such support, including donations to the Fund. Due to the sales of my book, ‘Madeleine’, the financial position of the Fund has significantly improved from a year and a half ago so we would like to reiterate our gratitude to everybody who bought the book. This has helped the search in more ways than one. Whilst fund expenditure has decreased over the past six months (due to a reduction in investigation spending as outlined in point 2) the Directors feel it is important that the fund maintains reasonable reserves so that the search for Madeleine can be resumed quickly should the MPS review not lead to a reopening of the case in Portugal. We desperately hope of course that the official investigation to find Madeleine will be reopened – and soon – as we still believe this is probably our best chance of finding our little girl.

 

 

Despite becoming stronger in ourselves and being able to create as special a Christmas as possible for our children, this time of year will never be as it should without Madeleine. Whilst Gerry and I think it constantly, Sean and Amelie now vocalise it, especially when doing something really nice like putting up the decorations….”If only Madeleine was here too…”

 

 

• If you know what has happened to Madeleine, or where she might be now, please, please do the right thing: Find the compassion and courage and let us know. Thank you.  

 

This past weekend we sat and opened the many, many Christmas cards which have been sent to us, at what is now our sixth Christmas without Madeleine. The majority were from people we have never met. It was once again a very humbling yet totally uplifting experience. We are deeply touched by the thoughtfulness and compassion which we continue to experience and for the love and hope which shine through for Madeleine. Thank you so much. It means such a lot - and helps us immensely. 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of our supporters. We wish you a festive period full of laughter, warmth and friendship – and hope for a special 2013. 

Kate

Day 1638: 27/10/2011 Thursday. Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 1638: 27/10/2011 Thursday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Updates Thursday, 27 October, 2011  

 

My grandparents always used to say that the years pass more quickly the older you get. It certainly feels that way.

 

I still dream of being able to stop time. Our only alternative however is to continue doing as much as we can to the best of our ability to enhance the search for Madeleine. So that is what we'll do. 

 

Thank you to everyone who has bought and read my book. Not only is this helping to fund our investigation and campaign, it will also improve and maintain awareness of Madeleine and our need to find her. It seems obvious that the more people who are informed worldwide, the more eyes and ears Madeleine will have assisting the search for her. We are really grateful for your support.

 

 

We also appreciate the general public's help in achieving a review of Madeleine's case. It is a big relief to us that our government finally agreed for a review to take place. We are grateful to them and to the Metropolitan Police Service for undertaking this fundamental and highly valuable procedure which has been underway now for several months. Although it will be a lengthy and difficult process, it is definitely a major step forward for Madeleine. 

 

I would also like to thank everyone who has written to us or sent their support in some way over the past six months. We have once again been touched by the incredible kindness and commitment shown to us and Madeleine, and bolstered by the continuing encouragement and positivity.   

Kate

Day 1293: 16/11/2010 Tuesday. Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 1293: 16/11/2010 Tuesday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Updates Monday, 15th November, 2010  

 (Date appeared on line 16/11/2010)

 

There are several different reasons as to why I finally came to the decision with my husband Gerry to write and publish a book. This decision has not been an easy one. Many factors needed to be given thorough and careful consideration, not least the impact of such a book on the lives of our three children.  My reason for writing is simple; to give an account of the truth.

 

Publishing this book has been a very difficult decision and is one that we have taken after much deliberation and with a very heavy heart. However, in the last few months with the depletion of Madeleine's Fund, it is a decision that has virtually been taken out of our hands.

 

Every penny we raise through its sales will be spent on our search for Madeleine. Nothing is more important to us than finding our little girl.

 

We are hopeful that this book may help the investigation to find Madeleine in other ways too.  Our hope is that it may prompt those who have relevant information (knowingly or not) to come forward and share it with our team.  Somebody holds that 'key piece of the jigsaw'.

 

Bill Scott-Kerr, Publisher at Transworld, bought the book from the Christopher Little Literary Agency for publication in Spring 2011.  All royalties will be donated directly to Madeleine's Fund ? Leaving No Stone Unturned Limited.

 

Bill said: 'It is an enormous privilege to be publishing this book. We are so pleased to be joining Kate and Gerry McCann in the Find Madeleine campaign."

 

The McCanns' Literary Agents, Christopher Little and Neil Blair, said: "We are honoured to be part of this emotive project and to support the McCanns in their search for Madeleine."

 

Thank you for your continued support.

 

Kate

Day 1280: 03/11/2010 Wednesday. Madeleine Beth McCann

NOVEMBER 2010

 

Day 1280: 03/11/2010 Wednesday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Updates Wednesday, 3rd November, 2010 

It is exactly three and a half years since our daughter Madeleine was so cruelly taken from us. Three and a half years without her seeing her brother, her sister, her Mummy, her Daddy or her best friends.  

 

We are still searching for her. Our small team continues to review all available information, even though we STILL don't have access to ALL of the information that the UK and Portuguese authorities have. Our team has interviewed hundreds of witnesses, received over 1000 calls, dealt with over 15,000 emails and maintained a computerised database of all information they have received. Despite the difficulties resulting from lack of official assistance, they 'follow up' all new leads to try and get fresh information into the investigation.

 

It is incredible to think that for the last two years and three months NO police force has proactively been doing anything to help us find Madeleine. Crucially, there has been NO formal review of the material held by the police authorities - which is routine practice in most countries, and especially when a key piece of the 'jigsaw' may have been overlooked.

We have tried in vain to get the authorities to play their part but our requests have seemingly fallen on deaf ears. It is simply not acceptable that they have, to all intents and purposes, given up on Madeleine. We need the authorities to do more.

 

However we know we are not alone. We have the tremendous support of family, friends and of course you the public. A lot of this support comes in the form of people saying to us 'if there's anything we can do, just let us know or 'I'd like to help but I don't know how'. To these people, and indeed yourself, my plea is simple:

 

We need your support to continue to lobby the British and Portuguese Governments to undertake a joint or independent review of Madeleine's case.

 

 

How can you do this' Simply visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/madeleinemccann_case_review/ today and sign the petition to call on the UK and Portuguese authorities to conduct an independent and transparent review of all information in relation to the disappearance of Madeleine. And in turn, please spread the word and encourage as many others to do the same. Together we can, and will pull all of the loose ends of Madeleine's case together and find her.  

Thank you. 

 

 

Looking for our daughter is not without significant cost. 

Another way you can show your support is by continuing to help us fund the search for Madeleine.

 

To carry on searching for Madeleine and to ensure that the process has continued in a meaningful and proactive way, we have been able to utilise the generous donations paid in to Madeleine's Fund by the general public, libel damages paid to ourselves and our friends and money raised through a variety of fund-raising efforts. The fund has allowed;

 

• Our investigation team of ex-police officers to operate and conduct enquiries in the UK, Portugal and further afield. 

• A Portuguese assistant/translator.  

• A 24 hour telephone line with translators to receive information from the public

 

• Media liaison in Portugal and the UK to ensure that we convey the simple factual messages: there is absolutely no evidence that Madeleine has been physically harmed; we must keep looking for her and those who took her.  

• Awareness campaigns in Portugal, Spain and further afield.

 

• Website hosting and development and social network site campaigns to raise awareness through the internet 

• A part-time campaign coordinator 

 

If Madeleine's Fund remains as it is, with the current rate of expenditure, it will run out in Spring 2011. This would essentially mean that any kind of proactive search for Madeleine would cease. So again we need your help. If you can,

 

please consider donating to Madeleine's fund.

·         £1 pays for the multi-lingual call centre availability for 1 hour

 

·         £2 per month pays for 12 travel packs that are distributed to holidaymakers going all over the world

·         £10 pays for 1000 posters that are translated and distributed across the world.

 

·         £25 pays for the access to a 24 hour multi-lingual telephone service for 1 day

 

·         £50 pays for the running costs of investigation office (and staff) for 2 hours

 

·         £420 pays for 10,000 multi-lingual prayer cards for Madeleine, with photograph and contact details 

 

Someone knows what has happened to Madeleine. We simply need to reach that person. We need to obtain that key piece of information, that 'missing piece of the jigsaw'. One call may be all we need to find Madeleine and who took her.

 

Our little girl is now seven years old; innocent, vulnerable and waiting to be found. Please, please sign the petition and help us to find her. 

 

On behalf of my family, thank you. 

Gerry

Day 1233: 17/09/2010 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 1233: 17/09/2010 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann 

Update September 6th 2010
(Date appeared on line Day 1233 17/09/10) 

 

As the Summer draws to a close, I'd like to thank everyone who has helped with our Summer Campaign by using Madeleine luggage tags, displaying posters, wearing Madeleine t-shirts while on their travels and of course for remaining vigilant. Thank you also to all the students who are helping with our 'Students for Madeleine' initiative. I have no doubt that it all helps. Keeping Madeleine's image out there greatly increases our chances of finding her. It is a reminder to people that she is still missing and to please keep looking for her. In addition, we know that somebody knows where Madeleine is. One more reminder of her may be all that it takes for them to finally come forward and let us know.

 

Despite the summertime being a relatively quiet period for everyone, our work to find Madeleine continues. There will be some changes and development in terms of strategy and ideas as we endeavour to leave no stone unturned in our search. This will include some changes to the board of Madeleine's Fund, simply to try and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of what we are doing. It has now been three years and four months since Madeleine was taken from us. None of us ever thought we'd still be in the position we are today. Inevitably there has to be change for a variety of reasons but importantly, this will also allow people to help and support us in different ways. Regardless of change, everyone's focus, commitment and desire continues to be that of finding Madeleine.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Day 1224: 08/09/2010 Wednesday Madeleine Beth McCann: About the Fund

Day 1224: 08/09/2010 Wednesday Madeleine Beth McCann

 

About the Fund

Madeleine's Fund - 'Leaving No Stone Unturned' is a not-for-profit company which has been established to find Madeleine McCann, support her family and bring her abductors to justice. The Fund is following best practice governance procedures as set out in the Good Governance Code for the Voluntary and Community Sector. The directors of the company are Peter Hubner, Brian Kennedy, Michael Linnett, Edward Smethurst, Jon Corner, Kate McCann & Gerry McCann. They have appropriate legal, business and charitable experience. An experienced Fund Administrator has been appointed to ensure the highest standards of transparency and accountability. This should enable the Directors to maintain an appropriate governance distance in the day-to-day operations of the Fund.

 

Poster Display Map

Step 1 - Pinpoint Where You Have Put-up a Poster

Step 1

Pin Point Poster
Step 2

You’re Information
Step 3

Attach a Photo   

Download Posters 

Drag the marker to where you put a Madeleine Poster:

Day 1220: 04/09/2010 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann. FUND PAGE RESIGNATIONS UPDATED

SEPTEMBER 2010


Day 1220: 04/09/2010 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

FUND PAGE RESIGNATIONS UPDATED

Fund updates Douglas Skehan resignation 24/08/ 2010

 John McCann Resignation 23/07/2010

 ------------

 

(6) Who are the directors of Madeleine's Fund?

 

There are nine directors of the Fund. They are:

 

?                     Peter Hubner; a retired consultant;

 

?                     Brian Kennedy, a retired head teacher;

 

?                     Edward Smethurst - A Commercial lawyer;

 

?                     Jon Corner - Director of a media company;

 

?                     Michael Linett- retired accountant

 

?                     Kate McCann General Practitioner

 

?                     Gerry McCann Consultant Cardiologist

 

(7) What is the money being spent on?

 

The majority of the fund money has been and continues to be spent on investigative work to help find Madeleine. Additionally money continues to be spent on the wider 'Awareness Campaign' ‘reminding people that Madeleine is still missing and to remain vigilant. None of the directors have taken any money from the fund as remuneration.

 

Anyone who wishes further information with regards to the financial details of Madeleine's Fund and its professional advisors, please refer to the accounts filed at Companies House. Crown Way Maindy Cardiff CF14 3UZ

 

Day 1107: 14/05/2010 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann: Update: Another 81 Miles for Madeleine

Day 1107: 14/05/2010 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

 Update: Another 81 Miles for Madeleine 

Poster for Event 

Madeleine has been missing for just over 3 years and recently had her 7th birthday.

 

This weekend I am competing in the Etape Caledonia - an 81 mile (130km) cycle through Highland Perthshire with almost 2000m of ascent. I am raising money for Madeleine's Fund- Leaving No Stone Unturned and I would be grateful if you would consider sponsoring me. I hope to get round in under 5 hours- weather, injuries and luck permitting!

Donations can be made online via our donation page or directly through internet transfers (direction are on the donation page).  

Please include etape in the reference.  

Thank you..

Gerry

Day 1000 27/01/2010 Wednesday. Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 1000 27/01/2010 Wednesday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Today marks 1000 days since Madeleine was taken from us. It's hard to even say the number. We remember the first few days after Madeleine was taken, watching the clock and counting every hour. Now we've reached 1000 days.

 

It's difficult sometimes to understand how we've been able to keep going and survive without Madeleine, especially since nothing has changed since that terrifying first night. Madeleine is still missing. Sometimes it even feels ‘wrong' to be coping. And yet if we weren't, there would be no search and no campaign to find Madeleine and that just doesn't bear thinking about! We are very aware though that our ability to cope and keep going for Madeleine has been greatly augmented by the incredible support we have received from so many people and this should never be underestimated. We will always remember and be forever grateful for this help, support and kindness.  

 

This evening we will be holding a fund-raising event in London – ‘Still Missing,Still Missed; An Evening for Madeleine'. We will be remembering Madeleine and other missing children throughout the world. We are hoping to raise a good amount of money to further the search for Madeleine but also to benefit the charities, Missing People and Missing Children Europe and the fantastic but often unrecognised work that they do on behalf of all missing children in the UK and Europe.

 

Also this evening, 1000 lanterns will be released into the night sky - an event which has been called ‘Look Up & Look Out for Madeleine'.They will be released from many different locations in the UK, Portugal and the USA.  It is a symbolic way for our family, friends and supporters to show that we have not forgotten Madeleine and will never give up on her. 

 

In addition to the above, Simon Armitage has very kindly(and courageously) written a poem for Madeleine to coincide with the 1000th day since her disappearance. It is called ‘The Beacon'. We think it is an incredible and really beautiful sonnet. It manages to convey so accurately and succinctly, both our darker moments and the reality of hope and possibility, aswell as including powerful and touching references to Madeleine. We hope it will be read by many.  

One thousand days. 

 

Madeleine is still missing and she needs to be found.

 

We will continue to turn every stone. We will never give upon Madeleine.

 

Thank you for your support and solidarity. Together we can bring Madeleine home.

 

 

 

Day 556: 09/11/2008 Sunday. Madeleine Beth McCann

NOVEMBER 2008 

Day 556: 09/11/2008 Sunday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 A difficult week for Kate and me ended on a positive note last night. Monday was the 3rd of November- 18 months since Madeleine was so cruelly taken from us. We do not usually put a lot of store in specific milestones - these being just another day without Madeleine. This week was unusual in that both Kate and I were feeling low at the same time, which is an uncommon occurrence, and we can usually rely on one of us lifting the other.

 

We continue to work very hard behind the scenes. Our support team has been expanded as we try to identify what has been done, what has not been done and what can still be done to help find Madeleine. We are not yet halfway through the Portuguese files but there is less information within the files than we were expecting. As I have stated many times, someone has a key bit of information that can unlock this frustratingly difficult and painful situation.

 

Yesterday we went through to Liverpool for a Race Night organised by the Greenhills Taverners Society- a group who organise fundraising events for local good causes- along with family and friends. On this occasion all proceeds were going towards Madeleines Fund. Around 200 people turned up and everyone enjoyed a good night. Liverpool and Everton donated signed shirts which were auctioned and with tickets and a raffle around '2000 has been raised. A taxi driver, taking home some of our friends, even got in to the spirit of things by donating his fare to the fund. Well done everyone and thanks for all the messages of support prayers- we left Liverpool in much better spirits than when we arrived

Day 533: 17/10/2008 Friday. They have apologised and paid '375,000 in to Madeleine's Fund

Day 533: 17/10/2008 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

 

Most of you will have seen yesterday that our seven friends, who were on holiday with us in Portugal when Madeleine was abducted, have been awarded libel damages. The Express group of newspapers admitted that many of the stories written about our friends were completely untrue and without foundation. They have apologised and paid '375,000 in to Madeleine's Fund. This money will be put to good use for the ongoing search for our beautiful little girl.

 

Our friends were under no obligation to pay the damages in to the fund. However they have from day one indicated that this was what they wanted and have clearly demonstrated that finding Madeleine is of the utmost importance to them. They, like us, believe there is a very good chance Madeleine is alive and can be found.

 

Thank you Fiona, David, Russell, Jane, Matt, Rachael and Diane.

 

We would also like to thank our friends in Portugal. They continue to hold a monthly Friday night vigil in Praia da Luz vigil to pray for Madeleine and other missing children, like so many others around the world.

Day 321: 19/03/2008 Wednesday

Day 321: 19/03/2008   Wednesday 

 

I think everyone must have heard the news today that Express Newspapers have published front page apologies to Kate and me and agreed damages of  £550,000 which will be paid in to Madeleines Fund. It gives us no joy that we had to take such action- we would rather have not had to put up with such distasteful, grotesque and blatantly untruthful coverage. Nevertheless we hope todays events will act as a springboard in advancing the search for Madeleine. The money will be used to aid the investigation. To read our full statement, please see the News and Press Releases in the News and Support section. 

 

 

Date Released: 19/03/2008 20:52:00

Statement from Madeleines Fund Board of Directors

 

'The directors of Madeleine's Fund welcome the settlement of Gerry and Kate's complaint against Express Newspapers, in particular the front page apologies for the grossly defamatory stories that were consistently published in recent months and the agreement reached on substantial damages.

 

It has been a great additional burden for Gerry and Kate to be repeatedly vilified in sections of the press. Such coverage was also a diversion for our campaign to find Madeleine.

 

We hope that such public apologies will not only bring some comfort to Gerry and Kate, but that they will re-emphasise the need for a renewed focus on the campaign.

 

The £550,000 damages from Express Newspapers will now be used fully within the stated spirit and aims of Madeleine's Fund.

 

The purpose of the Fund is to support Gerry and Kate specifically in the

search for Madeleine and her abductor(s).

 

The Fund will, therefore, continue to work to gather information to assist them in achieving their aim of bringing Madeleine home. We would, once again, urge any member of the public who still feels they may have useful information to come forward with it without delay

 

 

 

Attachments

WORD DOC 

Kate and Gerry Statement Express Newspapers

Date Released: 19/03/2008 11:00:00

 

We are pleased that Express Newspapers have today admitted the utter falsity of the numerous grotesque and grossly defamatory allegations that their titles published about us on a sustained basis over many months.

 

The exceptional publication of these apologies, together with today's statement of full apology in open Court before Mr Justice Eady, was the only just and proper response by Express Newspapers following our complaint. We also wish to place on record our thanks to Adam Tudor, from Carter Ruck. Today's result simply could not have been achieved without him

 

Express Newspapers, rightly acknowledge that we are innocent of all allegations that we may have been involved in Madeleine's abduction and WE would like to reiterate that there is absolutely no evidence that Madeleine is dead or has been seriously harmed.

 

We embarked on this course of action reluctantly, indeed with a heavy heart, as we did not wish the pursuit of it to become a distraction from our sole aim ? finding Madeleine. Indeed, as long ago as last autumn our lawyers approached Express Newspapers and urged them to show greater restraint in their reporting ? requests which went utterly unheeded.

 

The distress all this has caused members of our wider family, at a time of great emotional turmoil for them, was also a major factor in our action. Their pain over the loss of Madeleine has been compounded by having to witness the irresponsible and libellous reporting that we have successfully challenged today.

 

As a part of our settlement, Express Newspapers have also agreed to donate £550,000 to the Fund that was established to help find Madeleine. We feel it is entirely appropriate that the search for Madeleine will now benefit directly out of the wrongs committed against us as her parents.

 

We hope that the Portuguese authorities lift our arguido status in the very near future so that everyone can focus on finding our beautiful little girl, Madeleine.? 

Day 295: 22/02/2008 Friday

Day 295: 22/02/2008   Friday  

 

There has been a lot of media attention focussed on a possible sighting of Madeleine in Montpellier one week ago. We only heard of this two days ago and this was from a report sent into the website. Clarence has been inundated with media requests from all over the world for further information. Despite this, Kate and I have had no official notification of the potential sighting nor, more importantly, of whether this sighting has been eliminated by the authorities despite what has been reported in the press.

 

The continued disappearance of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews is deeply concerning and our thoughts and prayers are with her family. No matter what has happened to Shannon, there can be no doubt she must extremely vulnerable having spent three nights and four days away from home. We hope that she is found safe and well very soon and returned to her family.

 

Day 295: 22/02/2008 Friday 

Registration date: 22 February 2008 for Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned

Case details for Trade Mark 2456061 Intellectual Property Office

Mark text: Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned

 

Status

 

Status: Registered

Classes: 09, 16, 36, 41

 

Relevant dates

 

Filing date: 18 May 2007

Next renewal date: 18 May 2017

Registration date: 22 February 2008

 

List of goods or services

 

Class 09: Downloadable internet publications

Class 16: Printed matter

Class 36: Charitable fundraising; charitable and non-charitable services relating to the provision of assistance to

families and others affected by missing children.

Class 41: Non-downloadable internet publications 

Day 274: 01/02/2008 Friday, Madeleine Beth McCann

FEBRUARY 2008

 

Day 274: 01/02/2008 Friday, Madeleine Beth McCann 

 

01/02/2008 We have launched the new website layout today. I hope you all like it and we are sure that you fill find it much easier to navigate. The website was always envisaged as being the main portal to the find Madeleine campaign. If Madeleine remains missing and as the media attention drops then the website will be instrumental in keeping people up to date. As you will see a lot of work has gone in to extensively revising the content. Our whole family have unfortunately learnt an awful lot about the problems of missing and exploited children.

 

Our priority will always be to search for Madeleine and whoever abducted her. However we hope to work in coalition with the many excellent organisations in Europe and further afield to campaign for change. The first goal will be to get an EU wide child alert system introduced with cooperation from all the relevant authorities and law enforcement agencies.

Sean and Amelie turned three today.

 

We hope and pray that they will never have another birthday without Madeleine here. Despite the circumstances they really enjoyed their birthday ?tea party? today. The twins love seeing all their extended family. There is no doubt that Sean and Amelie have made life for all of us a little more bearable over the last 9 months.  

 

 

274 New Web Site Launched

Date Released: 01/02/2008 13:00:00

The newly designed web site for the Help to Find Madeleine Campaign has been launched today.

 

The purpose of the new site is to focus attention on the primary goal which remains to Find Madeleine McCann.

The fund have been working hard to design the site to make it more user friendly and easier to keep up to date.

 

It is hoped that the new site will allow people to find what they are looking for quickly. The new site still allows

 

Gerry to update his blog, but it also has the additional facility to allow authorised persons to issue News Items without the need for the Web team to write the code for the pages.

 

 

 

274 Message from Gerry and Kate 01/02/2008

Our daughter Madeleine was abducted on 3rd May 2007 in Praia da Luz, Portugal, 9 days before her 4th birthday. She was taken from our holiday apartment where she was sleeping with her younger brother and sister whilst we were dining 50 yards away. Despite a massive investigation led by the Portuguese police and supported by the British police, we still do not know who has taken her, why she was taken or where she is. In addition, private investigators based in Spain are now following up any leads regarding Madeleine's disappearance. (Investigation page)

 

Since Madeleine's abduction, we have learned a lot about missing children and child exploitation. The scale of the problem is massive and worldwide. Although finding Madeleine will always remain our priority, we feel it is our duty to highlight these problems as well as areas where legislation can be improved, in order to make the world a little safer for all children. To achieve these aims we are working closely with the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Centre for Child Exploitation and Online Protection and other non-governmental agencies throughout Europe (Investigation page). The Find Madeleine Campaign launched a new YouTube channel for missing children in August 2007 called 'Don't You Forget About Me' in conjunction with ICMEC and Google.

 

The support we have had from around the world has been amazing. We have no doubt that without all the good wishes, prayers and efforts of so many people, our ordeal would have been so much harder. It has helped maintain our strength and hope, and this together with support for the campaign, has helped the search for our precious Madeleine. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their unconditional support and solidarity.

 

Madeleine is a beautiful little person. She was a very happy and much loved little girl. We believe there is a very good chance that Madeleine is still alive. She deserves the love and security of her family. She needs to be back home with her mummy and daddy, brother and sister. Please keep Madeleine in your thoughts and prayers. And please ' remain vigilant.

 

We will NEVER give up looking for Madeleine.

 

Thank you again for your ongoing support and kindness.