Reward for lost girl Madeleine tops $5m
A multi-million pound reward for information leading to the safe return of Madeleine McCann, the British girl who went missing in Portugal 10 days ago, was offered on Saturday by a group of leading business figures as her parents spoke of the devastation wreaked by her abduction.
The entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, the impresario Bill Kenwright and retail tycoon Sir Philip Green were revealed as backers of a 1.5 million ($3 million) reward announced by the News of the World newspaper. It means the total reward now on offer stands at a record 2.6 million ($5.2 million) after a businessman and a family friend pledged a total of 1.1 million ($2.2 million) last week.
As friends, family and supporters in Britain and Portugal on Saturday sported yellow ribbons to show solidarity with the McCanns, Madeleine's father, Gerry, told villagers at a special mass that he and his wife, Kate, should have been celebrating the fourth birthday of their daughter. "Instead we have had to remember what a normal, beautiful, vivacious, funny, courageous and loving little girl we are missing today," he said and described the effect of Madeline's abduction on the family as being "like a tidal wave."
He said the devastation had been felt almost as powerfully by friends, family and those they had met following Madeleine's abduction. "The devastation affects everyone we meet here in the resort and has affected this community," said McCann from Rothley, Leicestershire. "The tidal wave did not stop here it has travelled many miles across Europe, across the sea to Glasgow, Liverpool, Leicester, Ireland, America, Canada, New Zealand and continental Europe, where we have many friends and family."
Gerry McCann smiled, and even laughed, for the first time in several days, as villagers lined up holding flowers and presents for Madeleine. His wife, who in recent days has appeared increasingly drawn, also smiled as scores of villagers lined up to kiss her on each cheek. Every member of the congregation wore a length of yellow string tied around their wrists as they entered.
Guardian
(China Daily 05/14/2007 page6)
