Day 3156: Wed 23 Dec 2015 Christmas 2015

DECEMBER 2015

Day 3156: Wed 23 Dec 2015

Christmas 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all our supporters. Your compassion and help has once again spurred us on through another year and never fails to astound us.

We really appreciate how lucky we are to have such amazing support behind us. Thank you. 

It is our 9th Christmas without Madeleine. As always, she is very much on our mind and in our hearts and Christmas preparations. We have not lost hope that we may get to celebrate another Christmas with her. If anything can drive us on, that most definitely will.

This year has blown over so quickly. Life is very busy, which is probably a good thing, but it does mean the months don’t seem to last long! Thankfully, the police investigation has made progress over the year. Whilst it is never as much or as speedy as we, or the police would like, we are moving in the right direction and that’s the positive. Patience and perseverance are virtues which we’ve acquired in abundance over recent years - another positive!

2015 has also been a full and successful year for the charity ‘Missing People’ which is great news for many of those missing and their families too. I loved taking part in the charity’s ‘500 mile Cycle Challenge’ in June and would encourage anyone who is interested to give it a go next year. It is such a fulfilling and worthwhile experience on many levels and it really makes a difference for missing loved ones and their families. Thank you for all the support given to the charity this year. 

Thank you also for all the lovely Christmas cards we’ve received. It gives us a lot of pleasure and comfort to sit down together and share your kind messages, with the reassurance that Madeleine has not been forgotten.
 

And so a new year approaches….new energy, new opportunities, new hope.
 

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful 2016. 

Kate & Gerry

Day 2920: Friday 01 May, 2015 - Update Eight years.

MAY 2015


Day 2920: Friday 01 May, 2015 - Update Eight years. 

Updates

There's no gentle way of putting it. Whilst most days, weeks and months are fairly similar –

Madeleine is missed every day – this time of year cuts deep as it's a harsh reminder of time having passed and precious years with Madeleine lost.  

Without a shadow of doubt, the love, support, help and prayers that we continue to receive from so many people, in spite of the years which have gone by, encourages us, maintains our hope and lifts our spirits. 

We are also buoyed and reassured by the unwavering commitment and continued progress being made in the investigation. We are really grateful to the Metropolitan Police team for their conscientiousness, patience, consideration shown to us and above all, their will to find Madeleine and determine what has happened. 

Cooperation with and from the Portuguese Police has, and still is, vital to the success of the investigation. We are very appreciative of the joint working relationship established between the two forces.

 Next month, I will be raising awareness again of the charity Missing People, and the many children who go missing every year. One child is too many. I will be taking part in a 500 mile charity cycle from Edinburgh to London and during this journey, I am hoping to promote the UK's Child Rescue Alert (CRA) system. If you can help me, please do by either donating at www.justgiving.com/KateMcCann/ and/or signing up to the CRA at www.childrescuealert.org.uk.

We've always promised ourselves that something positive has to come out of all the suffering Madeleine and our family have endured. If highlighting the issues of child abduction (and missing children in general) and raising money to enable the charity Missing People to carry out their invaluable work improves this very real and heartbreaking problem, then every push of those pedals will be worth it. Always. 

 Thank you again for your incredible and very humbling kindness and support.  

Kate and Gerry

Day 2556: 02 May 2014 Monday, Madeleine Beth McCann, 3rd May 2014 - Seventh Anniversary Since Madeleine’s Abduction

MAY 2014

 

Day 2556: 02 May 2014 Monday, Madeleine Beth McCann 

Updates 

3rd May 2014 - Seventh Anniversary Since Madeleine’s Abduction

Seven years without our daughter, seven years without a big sister for Sean and Amelie. Sometimes we feel totally stuck for words. A lot of the time there are no words. Our situation seems as unbelievable as it did that very first night without Madeleine.

 

Whenever I find myself becoming paralysed with disbelief, unease, frustration or sadness, I have to refocus my mind on the positives, of which there are many.

 

The Metropolitan Police force continue to make encouraging progress in their investigation with new evidence being uncovered, fresh information coming in to the inquiry following appeals and subsequently, links being made between people and events. We are hugely grateful to the general public for continuing to support the investigation, especially those who have found the courage to come forward with information despite difficult circumstances. Whilst the MPS are cautiously optimistic of beginning enquiries on the ground in Portugal in the near future, we really hope that this will turn into a concerted effort from the Portuguese authorities as we know there is still a lot to do. Working together is key to the progress of the investigation and a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) could provide a more streamlined way of working with less bureaucracy. It may be seven years since we last saw Madeleine but the passing of further weeks and months as a result of unnecessary delays and barriers are not only frustrating, they are incredibly distressing. Each day without Madeleine and each day of not knowing is another day too many, regardless of how much time has already gone by.

 

May is an important month for all missing children and their families worldwide with May 25th being International Missing Children’s Day. This May is particularly special in the UK as a new enhanced Child Rescue Alert (CRA) system (to help find abducted and missing children in serious danger) is to be launched by the charity Missing People and the National Crime Agency. This system (based on the highly effective ‘Amber Alert’ in the USA) I believe, will help to save the lives of abducted children and ease the suffering faced by their families. It’s a very exciting step forward.

 

Throughout the whole month, the charity Missing People are running a ‘Forget-Me-Not’ campaign with several different ways for the public to get involved to help find missing children. One really important and simple way you can get on board is by signing up to the Child Rescue Alert. By registering, you will receive an alert with relevant information, by text or email, when a child is abducted in your area. This way you can join the search immediately and play a vital role in helping to find a child in danger. Please take a minute to visit www.childrescuealert.org.uk and sign up today. There are several other ways to help too – Take a look on www.missingpeople.org.uk.

 

It goes without saying, but needs to be said….We are grateful beyond words for the continued and unwavering commitment, help and love from all our faithful supporters. Thank you SO much for keeping Madeleine in your hearts.

 

 

SEVEN YEARS.

STILL MISSING.

STILL MISSED.

NEVER FORGOTTEN.

THANK YOU.

Kate

Day 2192: 02 May 2013 Thursday, Madeleine Beth McCann

MAY 2013

Day 2192:  02 May 2013 Thursday, Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Updates Thursday, 2 May, 2013

 

SIX YEARS. I don't think we are the only ones who find this hard to believe.  

 

It's difficult to know what to write as each year passes, still without news of Madeleine. In many ways, nothing's changed. We still worry about her, we miss her as much as we ever did, we remain as determined as ever to find her and to know what has happened. 

 

The one thing that has progressed significantly over the last year is the work of the Metropolitan Police. We remain greatly encouraged by their work and the many things they have managed to uncover so far. Their commitment and increasing determination parallels our own and brings us great comfort and reassurance. We continue to hope and pray that the Met working with the Portuguese Authorities will lead to a significant breakthrough. We need to find Madeleine and bring some peace to our family.  

 

In the early days, Gerry remarked that we weren't sure whether this journey would be a sprint or a marathon. It's been much, much more than a marathon (I'm qualified to say that now!) We really appreciate how lucky we have been to be surrounded by such fabulous support for so long. Thank you to all our supporters for being there alongside us and for never forgetting about Madeleine. We're here for the long haul, for as long as it takes. Thank you for being there too.

 

 

And finally, a special 'thank you' to everybody who sponsored me to run the London marathon recently. Your kind donations, which have now amounted to more than £21,000 (fantastic!) will allow the charity, Missing People, to continue the search for many missing children and vulnerable adults, as well as provide essential support for their families. Your compassion and generosity will help to ease the suffering of many people. Thank you. 

Kate

Day 1967: 20 September 2012 Thursday, Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 1967: 20 September 2012 Thursday, Madeleine Beth McCann 

 

Updates

20 September, 2012

Thank you to everybody who has supported our summer campaign again. By displaying the new poster, car sticker or luggage tag of Madeleine, awareness of her plight is maintained, as is our appeal to the general public to keep looking for her.

 

We are constantly thinking of new ways to improve our search for Madeleine: we don’t know what it will be, or what it will take to bring us that vital call. It may even turn out to be a simple case of ‘the right place at the right time’ which is why we need to persevere in our efforts and to keep prompting people.

 

The Metropolitan Police are continuing with the investigative review and we are really encouraged by their work. We continue to hope that the case will be re-opened in Portugal in the near future so that the investigation to find our daughter can be resumed.

 

The nationwide campaign that I’ve been involved in, as part of my ambassadorial role for the charity ‘Missing People’, is now in its tenth week. This campaign has been possible thanks to the generous help of the Outdoor Media Centre and its members in partnership with the team at Missing People. Images of missing children and adults have been displayed on huge billboards in many cities throughout the UK, appealing to the general public for help. Already many vulnerable have been found since the campaign started which is obviously fantastic news. Thank you to everyone who has supported this initiative and responded to these appeals. Your help is invaluable. (More updates in due course)

 

We continue to feel humbled but at the same time buoyed by the amount of support we still receive from so many people. It helps us enormously and undoubtedly helps our search for Madeleine too. Thank you. 

Kate

Day 1849: 25 May 2012 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann , International Missing Children’s Day

Day 1849: 25 May 2012 Friday. Madeleine Beth McCann  

 

Updates  
 

Friday, 25th May, is International Missing Children’s Day (IMCD)– a day to remember the many thousands of children who go missing every year from all around the world.

 

We hope that this date will become ingrained in people’s minds as we work together to tackle this vast and devastating problem.

 

This year in the UK, IMCD has been marked by the launch of two highly valuable initiatives:

 

 

 1. The charity ‘Missing People’  (www.missingpeople.org.uk) have launched a new single telephone number, 116 000, as the number to call for advice, help and support if you, or your loved one go missing. It is free, available 24 hours a day and confidential.  

 

(NB: To report a missing child, call 999)

 

2. The ‘Child Exploitation and Online Protection’ centre (CEOP; www.ceop.police.uk ) in association with 'Parents & Abducted Children together’ (PACT; www.pact-online.org ) have launched a brand new version of the MissingKids website, www.missingkids.co.uk . This website includes information and appeals about the many missing children, in or from the UK, and enables law enforcement agencies to disseminate data and photographs of these children worldwide. The website is an important tool for finding missing children and reuniting them with their families.

 

Our appeal to you:

 

Every year in the UK alone, more than a quarter of a million people are reported missing. An estimated 140,000 are children. Behind every missing child or adult case is a family suffering immensely through heartache and confusion.

 

 Please remember the new number, 116 000. Store it in your mobile phone and pass it on to others. One day, you might just need it, and then it will be a lifeline.

 

Visit www.missingkids.co.uk  and circulate the web address to your contacts. Please spend ten minutes looking through the different pictures of missing children on the website. It has been estimated that one missing child in seven (1 in 7!) is found because a member of the general public has recognised them after seeing their photograph. Every one of us can make a difference.

 

And finally, thank you to the Government, the charities and organisations, the businesses and the general public for helping to raise awareness, providing critical resources and for joining the search. Let’s keep it going!

Kate

 

Day 1845: 21 May 2012 Monday. Madeleine Beth McCann, Find Madeleine Campaign Joins Big Tweet for Missing Children

Day 1845: 21 May 2012 Monday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Campaign Page

 

Find Madeleine Campaign Joins Big Tweet for Missing Children

 

On International Missing Children’s Day 25 May, 2012 the Find Madeleine Campaign will join Stephen Fry in helping to safely reconnect missing children by taking part in the charity Missing People’s Big Tweet for Missing Children. 

 

The charity will be tweeting a different appeal for a missing child every 30 minutes for 24 hours. The Find Madeleine Campaign is supporting this creative digital campaign by retweeting the appeals that Missing People tweet to their followers. 

 

Stephen Fry, a patron of Missing People said, “A staggering 130,000 children go missing in the UK every year. On International Missing Children’s Day (Friday 25 May), I will once again join the charity Missing People in harnessing the power of Twitter to help find missing children via The Big Tweet for Missing Children. You can take part too, by retweeting the appeals for missing children that the charity will tweet every 30 minutes. 

 

On this day, the charity will also be launching 116 000 – the new hotline number to call or text for support if you or someone you love goes missing. So please add #116000 to all your tweets and help to spread the word about this important new number. You never know when someone you love might need it.” 

 

 On the same day, the charity Missing People will also be working with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and Parents & Abducted Children Together (PACT) to launch a new Missing Kids website.  

 

If you would like to join the Find Madeleine Campaign in taking part in the Big Tweet for Missing Children, you can find more information at www.missingpeople.org.uk/bigtweet2012  

 

Thank you for helping to find missing children.

Day 1782: 19/03/2012 Monday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

MARCH 2012

Day 1782: 19/03/2012 Monday. Madeleine Beth McCann

 

Updates 

Saturday, 17 March, 2012   

On Saturday, Gerry and I, along with our friends and hundreds of other runners ran in the 'Miles for Missing People' 10K event in Regent's Park, London.

 

It was greatly encouraging - judging from the brilliant turnout - to see that the weather and resulting conditions (rain, wind and mud!) didn't put any of us off. It was also fantastic to have so many children there, participating in the fun run. Well done!

 

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the event (including all those who generously sponsored me and other runners). In doing so you have contributed to the essential work done by the team at Missing People, and thereby helped the many missing children and adults, and their families left behind.

 

And finally, thank you to Missing People for all their hard work and commitment, day in day out, to make the lives of people like ourselves that bit more bearable. 

 

 Kate

Day 1045: 13/03/2010 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann

Day 1045: 13/03/2010 Saturday. Madeleine Beth McCann  

Update: Saturday 13th March 2010

 

Today we joined hundreds of runners to take part in a 10km run in Hyde Park to support the work of the charity 'Missing People' (http://www.missingpeople.org.uk/).

 

'Miles for Missing People' is the first of what will now be an annual event.

 

Many relatives who also have a family member missing (through a variety of different circumstances) came to support the event and raise awareness for all missing children and adults.  

 

We want to thank Martin Houghton-Brown and the team at Missing People for organising today's run, and of course for all their commitment and hard work, despite limited resources and recognition.

We would also like to thank everyone who came to run and/or show their support today, as well as all those who have very generously sponsored me and the other runners. 

 

Events like that today, help to remind the world that these children and adults are still missing. By supporting such a cause, we are all giving them a much needed chance of being found - and hopefully reunited with their family