#Blogging 4 Madeleine
I missed Sunday and the en-mass blog for Madeleine and what would be her 10th Birthday. I still want to highlight the campaign on my blog so I thought it wouldn't hurt to take part albeit late.
I can remember hearing the breaking news when she vanished, I was at home with Evan who was 5 and 4 months at the time and in Reception.
I can remember actually REALLY trying to imagine him being gone... Just like that - a huge void. Every single thing would be an instant reminder, a toy, a book even a pebble he had picked up. It hurts to even imagine and the McCanns have to live with that real unimagined reality every day....
Madeleine McCann disappeared on Thursday, 3rd May 2007 she was nearly 4 years old. On holiday with her parents and twin siblings, Madeleine was taken from their apartment in Praia da Luz, a resort in the Algarve region of Portugal.There have been no confirmed sightings of her since.
Madeleine as she was:
and how she may look now:
I didn't believe Kate and Gerry McCann at all for a long time and it wasn't until I watched an interview with them and listened to Kate explaining her heartbreak that my initial feelings completely changed.I bought the book 'Madeleine' as soon as it came out and read it in hours. It explained a huge amount to me and also explained why I had doubts about Kate & Gerry. The initial police investigation and media coverage was a complete farce and I believe did irreparable damage to the search, situation and public perception of what plainly were traumatised people that had no idea what was happening to them or their precious little girl.I plead with you all to buy the book and read it - it is truly eye opening and a fascinating insight to what this amazing couple have had to go through.Last week saw the amazing story unfold of three girls that had disappeared around ten years ago in Ohio, USA being found after being kept as prisoners in a home near where they had all vanished. My immediate thoughts were 'There is hope for Madeliene yet' and I truly believe that. Everytime I go anywhere I subconsciously know that I look for her...So Happy 10th Birthday Madeleine - you are truly missed.BUTIt is not just Madeleines disappearance that has affected me over the years.
Ben Needham was just 21 months old when he vanished from outside his Grandparents home on the island of Kos in 1991.
I was 20 years old and working in Cosmetics To Go, Poole when I heard this story but it was days after the initial disappearance. There was no social media, no press coverage no Internet - Kerry (Ben's Mum) had nobody doing anything for her and I remember her trauma and heartbreak on the [eventual] TV news coverage.Years before the 'EU' the Kos police worked without co-operation initially from the UK Police and failed Kerry, Ben & the family in those imperatively important first few days and subsequent time after Ben vanished.I took posters with me when I went abroad for years, just A4 and stuck them up on lamp posts and in windows in the hope somebody would know where he was.I watched Kerry and Ben's younger sister Leighanna on This Morning last week and I feel for them so much. Kerry has written her book at long last and I URGE you to buy it and read it as all money goes to the continuing search for Ben. I cannot even begin to imagine the financial implications that go with a case like this. every single time there is a 'lead' that YOU as a Mother - NEED to follow or chase up is then quashed because of funding and not being able to have the necessary financial backing or investigative help to see if it was your child.....
Ben would now be 23 (24 in October) and is somewhere out there... I REALLY believe that.
So there you have it I blogged for Madeleine but also for Ben, two lost children that NEED to be found.
So if you are going ANYWHERE in Europe from Kos to Blackpool this year take posters (links below) and stick them up - leave them in cafes, restaurants and your hotel rooms you NEVER, EVER know who might see one.
As we saw last week in America - there is no better place to hide somebody than in plain sight.
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Find Madeleine
Help Find Ben
Find Ben on Twitter Facebook
Find Madeleine on Twitter Facebook
Ben's Book
Madeleine the book
Ben Posters
Madeleine Posters
PLEASE CONTACT:Your local police force immediately, ANDOperation Grange: 0207 321 9251 (in the UK) / +44 207 321 9251 (non-UK)[email protected] in confidence on 0800 555111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
