THE parents of Madeleine McCann have penned a heartbreaking tribute to mark the 18th anniversary of her disappearance on Saturday.
Clinging onto hope of finding their daughter, Kate and Gerry thanked those who have supported them and kept Madeleine in their thoughts.
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The parents wrote: “No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day,” alongside a picture of Madeleine.
Madeleine vanished aged three from her bed whilst on a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Lagos, Portugal on May 3, 2007.
Nobody has ever been charged in relation to her disappearance, though German police have identified a prime suspect – convicted paedo and rapist Christian Brückner.
Kate and Gerry told how they continue to “celebrate” her as “the very beautiful and unique person she is” in a touching post on the Find Madeleine Campaign site.
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They said: “We miss her” and vowed to “leave no stone unturned” in their “unwavering determination” to discover her fate.
The couple are due to attend an annual prayer vigil on Saturday evening in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, to remember their daughter.
It they attend, there is expected to be a police presence as the family are alleged victims of two women stalkers, who have both been charged and await trial in October.
Madeleine’s parents also thanked their many supporters on the Facebook page, which has updated its profile with a montage of favourite photos of her.
Renowned heart doctor Gerry, 56, and former GP turned medical worker Kate, 57, cling onto a glimmer of hope that their daughter, who would now be 21, could still be alive.
They wrote: “As we arrive at the 18th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction, we’d like to thank our faithful supporters once again for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine.
“The years appear to be passing even more quickly and whilst we have no significant news to share, our determination to ‘leave no stone unturned’ is unwavering.
“We will do our utmost to achieve this.”
The McCanns added: “May is also the month which includes ‘International Missing Children’s Day’ (25th).
“We continue to remember all missing children and their families, both here in the UK and abroad, thinking especially of all the children displaced from their homes and families in Ukraine and Gaza at this time.
“We’re very grateful to the UK Charity Missing People for their ongoing, invaluable work and to all organisations, charities and police forces who remain committed, despite many challenges and limited resources, to finding & bringing home the many missing and abducted children.”
The post continues: “May is also Madeleine’s birthday – her 22nd this year.
“No matter how near or far she is, she continues to be right here with us, every day, but especially on her special day.
“We continue to ‘celebrate’ her as the very beautiful and unique person she is. We miss her. Kate, Gerry & family.”
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The McCanns are expected to join friends and well wishers for the poignant milestone with a police presence there for the first time for their own safety.
Simon Payne, the vicar of Rothley Baptist Church which will host the vigil, said: “Eighteen years is quite a milestone and people still want to come and remember Madeleine and pray for her family.
“I hope it will be a peaceful occasion with no disturbance.
“I am told there will be a police presence, for Kate and Gerry who are hoping to be there.
“I am not sure how many officers will be in attendance.”
If the McCanns attend the customary gathering, where they are whole-heartedly welcomed by their community, it is not sure if their twins Sean and Amelie, both 20, will join them.
Kate’s uncle Brian Kennedy, who lives in the village with wife Janet, confirmed there would be a gathering on Saturday at 7pm at Cross Green at the war memorial.
He said: “I have no idea how many will attend and it has been such a long time, but the local people are still very supportive.”
The retired school head teacher added: “We are aware of how quickly May 3 comes round again but we keep on hoping even after such a long time.”
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Police will be on hand as Kate and Gerry, and their children, have been victims of alleged stalking which a court heard had a “substantial adverse effect” on the family’s lives, causing them “alarm and distress”.
Last year the McCanns pulled out of the annual prayers at the eleventh hour on police advice.
Unbeknown to the public at the time, they were allegedly being stalked and harassed by Polish “Madeleine faker” Julia Wandel.
She ominously turned up at the service, having approached their home the previous night.
Madeleine’s disappearance remains one of the world’s largest-scale missing person inquiries, and her fate remains unknown to this day.
German police are convinced Madeleine is dead and have been intent on charging prime suspect Christian Brueckner – sensationally named almost five years ago – with her kidnap and “no body” murder.
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Scotland Yard are still treating her case as a missing persons inquiry and launched Operation Grange in 2011 on orders of the then Prime Minister David Cameron.
They have just been granted new funding by the Home Office of £108,000 for this financial year.
So far, the Met Police’s 14-year inquiry has cost the taxpayer a staggering £13.2 million plus.
A Home Office spokesperson said today: “Ministers have approved a request to provide up to £108,000 for Operation Grange in 2025-26.
“In line with our Special Grant processes, funding for Operation Grange is approved on an annual basis.”