Mccanns will not 'lose hope'

The parents of abducted toddler Madeleine McCann have vowed not to lose hope as International Missing Children's Day is marked around the world.In a message carried this morning in the Portuguese press, Gerry and Kate McCann identified with parents of missing children in all countries.The couple thanked "everyone throughout Portugal and beyond for the overwhelming love, support and hospitality they have shown us since Madeleine's disappearance."The youngster was abducted from her holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, on the Algarve, Portugal, just over three weeks ago, as Mr and Mrs McCann dined nearby.The couple also praised Portuguese police for "their hard work and determination" during the investigation.They added: "We, like parents of missing children around the world, will not lose hope. The only thing that will make us happy is Madeleine's safe return, something every parent will understand."To mark International Missing Children's Day, a picture of the missing four-year-old was beamed onto Marble Arch in London last night.Later, Mrs McCann is expected to attend a private lunch with a children's charity as Madeleine becomes the focus of events across Europe.In Britain, Mr McCann's brother John visited the London head office of the National Missing Persons Helpline to highlight its work and spoke of the family's devastation over Madeleine's disappearance.He offered a message of hope to all other families who are missing a loved one.He said: "I'm sure that you all can relate to the horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach and the complete turmoil that hits us. The initial waves of sickness and mental upset was completely overwhelming."None of us was able to think clearly. We just could not take in that someone had done this to our wee lovely Madeleine. These things just don't happen to normal families. But it had."For all families that are coping with a disappearance, your pain will be like ours and some of them will have carried it for longer than we have."What I want to do is show that you can remain hopeful. The key part is realising that there is a channel of support and that is where the charity Missing People comes in."International Missing Children's Day originates from the disappearance on May 25, 1979, of six-year-old Etan Patz in New York. According to the US Department of Justice 797,500 children are reported missing each year.EU figures show that in Italy around 1,850 minors go missing each year, with just over 1,000 in Belgium. In the UK, Home Office estimates show 210,000 people reported missing each year with up to two-thirds under the age of 18.The figures include runaways and family tug-of-love snatches.