General Update May 2009
May is obviously a difficult month for us now, with the anniversary of Madeleine's abduction as well as Madeleine's birthday. Despite this, it has also been a positive month in several ways, with many people once again offering their support and showing great kindness.

On May 3rd, there were special church services for Madeleine - here in Rothley, in Liverpool and in Praia da Luz. Each of these services was very well attended and described by those there as being very beautiful. In addition many other masses and prayers were offered for Madeleine on this day throughout the UK and beyond. It is a great comfort for us as a family to know that Madeleine remains so strongly in people's thoughts and prayers.

On May 8th, Bishop Ellis Primary School (‘Madeleine's school') held an ‘Auction of Promises'. This was a well supported and really fun night, with over £6000 being raised for Madeleine's Fund. Well done and many thanks to everyone who helped make this evening a success! During the same weekend, many runners taking part in a 10K race in Liverpool wore Madeleine ‘Don't Give Up On Me' T-shirts and again a substantial amount of money was raised for the fund. Thank you! Keep going everyone - it all helps.

Following on from the Cutting Edge documentary and reconstruction -‘Madeleine was here' - shown initially in the UK on May 7th, we have had many calls and emails coming in to our investigative team. We are really pleased with the response and currently all pieces of information are being prioritised and followed up as necessary. Again, thank you to everyone who has had the courage and compassion to come forward and pass on their information. It may only take one call or one email to unravel this ‘puzzle', end the nightmare and hopefully bring our Madeleine home.

On Tuesday May 12th it was Madeleine's birthday. She is now 6 years old. We had a small birthday party with close family and a few of Madeleine's friends. She deserves to be celebrated. Hopefully next year she'll be here to blow out her birthday cake candles herself. Madeleine's grandma and grandad, and great aunt and uncle spent a few days at the shrine in Fatima over the period of Madeleine's birthday and the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. They described it as a very moving experience and a good and comforting place to be at such an emotional time.

Thank you again to everyone for continuing to support us during these difficult times- for all the ‘well-wisher' cards, letters and flowers, as well as the birthday cards and gifts sent for Madeleine. Despite the sadness of our situation, we are very aware that we are incredibly lucky to have such kind and invaluable support. Thank you.

Kate and Gerry McCann - together with their three children - are to sue the former Portuguese police officer Goncalo Amaral over his continuing, grossly defamatory claims that Madeleine is dead and that her parents were somehow involved in concealing their own daughter's body.

In a statement, Kate and Gerry McCann said: "We - together with our three children Madeleine, Sean and Amelie - are taking this legal action against Goncalo Amaral over his entirely unfounded and grossly defamatory claims - made in all types of media, both within Portugal and beyond - that Madeleine is not only dead, but that we, her parents, were somehow involved in concealing her body.

"This decision has been taken to prevent any further publication of Goncalo Amaral's deeply offensive book "The Truth Of The Lie", his so-called television ‘documentary' and any repetition of his disgraceful thesis that we are somehow involved in the disappearance of our much loved daughter, Madeleine.

"The primary reason for our legal action is simple: to stop any negative effect that these absurd and deeply hurtful claims may be having on the ongoing search for Madeleine. We can no longer stand back and watch as Mr Amaral tries to convince the entire world that Madeleine is dead. Nor can we allow this blatant injustice to Madeleine, with its obvious risk of hindering our attempts to find her, to continue.

"Mr. Amaral's entirely unjustified claims have not only brought indescribable devastation and suffering to our lives, they have hugely compounded the already immense pain and anxiety we have endured since Madeleine's abduction.

"Our three children are joint complainants in this action because of the detrimental effect Mr Amaral's continued assertions will undoubtedly have on their future lives. Sean and Amelie require protection as they prepare to start school this autumn. Madeleine requires protection from those who are obstructing the possibility of her being found."

There has been a huge response to the reconstruction shown on May 7th and we thank you for all the information recieved. Our investigation team are working through all this information and they will  recontact where it is necessary to obtain further information.

If you have contacted us through the anonymous message board and are happy to be contacted please pass your information to investigation@findmadeleine.com

Once again thank you for not giving up on Madeleine. 

Everton and Sunderland Football Clubs kindly helped us -once again - to remind everyone about Madeleine and the fact that she is still missing. The football community as a whole has helped us hugely over the last two years and we are so grateful for this show of support and solidarity across all clubs and colours. It is incredibly uplifting to have so many supporters with all the passion and pride they display, standing by Madeleine and willing her home. Thank you!

On the 3rd May 2007, 3yr old Madeleine McCann was abducted from the Ocean Club in Praia da Luz. Since then, despite extensive enquiries Madeleine is still missing.

It is almost two years since Madeleine McCann disappeared and there is good reason to believe that she is still alive. Madeleine's family and friends will never give up hope.

At the time of Madeleine's disappearance the emphasis was placed more on international appeals and it has been recognised that the local Portuguese residents of Praia da Luz and the surrounding areas have never been properly asked about information they may have to give.

The purpose of the current campaign is to do just that; ask the local Portuguese residents for information to help to find Madeleine.

Experience shows that the crucial answers are in the immediate vicinity. Someone in the area could almost certainly have the vital information that could help Madeleine's return to her family, or a combination of people all coming forward with a single piece of information could piece together vital clues which could solve the disappearance.

Experience also shows that people almost always confide in someone else. Someone in Praia da Luz may have been given information that should be passed on and now is the perfect opportunity to do just that. If anyone has information of any kind, do the right thing and pass it on so that Madeleine McCann can go home.

The campaign is about finding Madeleine. Her family hope and believe that local residents can be a very real help. It goes without saying that they would forever be indebted to anyone who had that vital piece of information.

Over the next couple of weeks in the Lagos and Luz areas residents will see posters, billboards and advertisements. Leaflets will be distributed in towns and local markets and there will also be a mailing sent to local homes appealing for help.

It should be stressed that any information given will be treated with the utmost confidence. Information can be given anonymously by telephone, email, text and freepost.