Madeleine McCann family mark 18th anniversary of disappearance ahead of 22nd birthday
Madeleine was just three years old when she vanished while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007.
Madeleine McCann 's family has marked the 18th anniversary of her disappearance by remembering her as a 'very beautiful and unique person' ahead of what would be her 22nd birthday.
Madeleine was just three years old when she vanished while on a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in 2007.
Parents Kate and Gerry McCann and the family released a joint statement said: '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.'
On May 12, Madeleine would be turning 22 and the family delivered the heartbreaking message.
They said: '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.'
The statement, posted on the Find Madeleine website, thanked supporters 'for standing by us and never forgetting about Madeleine'.
It added: '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 and bringing home the many missing and abducted children.'
Ahead of International Missing Children's Day on May 25, the McCanns said: '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 & families in Ukraine and Gaza at this time.'
In April, ministers approved more than £100,000 in additional funding for Scotland Yard detectives investigating Madeleine's disappearance.
Madeleine was three when she vanished while her parents went to dinner with friends, leaving their three young children asleep in their holiday apartment.
Gerry and Kate McCann had left her in bed with her twin siblings while they had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant in Praia da Luz when the then three-year-old disappeared at around 10pm on May 3.
More than £13m has been spent by the Metropolitan police investigating the case.
Prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in Germany for the rape of an elderly woman at her home in the Praia da Luz in 2005, has denied any involvement in Madeleine's disappearance.
Brueckner was acquitted of unrelated rape and child sex assault charges last October.
He will not face any charges in relation to the missing youngster anytime soon - and will be released from prison, prosecutors have said.
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