Wednesday 15 May 2013

Happy birthday Madeleine


The face no-one could or will ever forget. Madeleine McCann - it was her 10th birthday on Sunday 12th May 2013. Yet, instead of being at home celebrating with her friends and family, she is missing. Where? I wish I knew, as do thousands if not millions of others.

And, sadly, she's not the only missing child.

April Jones, 5 years old, went missing back in October 2012. A man is currently on trial for her abduction and murder. A trial I have refused to keep updated on as I still have hope the little girl is found, just like Madeleine, just like the 1000s of children and adults missing all over the world. And when I say 1000s it is just a guess - we only hear of the high profile stories, the ones the press have splashed all over the front pages, the ones we hope, no matter what we hear or read, that the kids involved will return to their families safe and well.

So what am I doing?
I'm taking part in a campaign called #blogging4madeleine where bloggers blog about this subject. To raise awareness, to encourage, to remind - it's amazing just how easy someone can forget after a while.

I've had so much trouble finding the right words to put down, even now I don't think these are right either, but something that happened today made me realise just how precious a little person is and how much they need protection.

Going through my morning routine; sorting little man J's breakfast, changing Baby B and feeding him, checking my emails and having a nose on Facebook. Whilst look for ideas for a Christening present, I noticed there was a new post in my local area group - it's basically a group for residents who live in my local area and they advertise sale items, inform others of events or have a general moan.
Well today, the new post was from a worried lady, who had found a young boy wandering the street. This young boy had bare feet and had been seen crossing the road a few times. She said he was about 3/4 years old and wouldn't speak to anyone.

Now, what initially annoyed me was one lady wrote "That's disgusting - good thing you spotted him before he was snatched the poor thing. Get onto the police who will hopefully ring social services!"

Ring Social Services? Is this lady for real? I mean, we've all had it - we turn our back for a second, and something goes wrong. Ask my mum, I once stuck my foot in a bath of hot water when my dad turned his back. I remember giving my little sister a good slap (and vice versa) when my mum wasn't looking. My eldest daughter, then 5 years old, went for a little walk when we first moved into our house, over to her nans in dressing-up clothes - whilst I was out the back garden pegging washing on the line!

But after a while, I realised how lucky the little boy was. He COULD have been snatched by anyone. He COULD have been hurt somehow. But is getting Social Services involved when the background is unknown the right move? For all we know, his mother could have collasped and he went outside to look for help. Maybe, like me, she was pegging washing out and he "escaped" without her realising? 

It happens everyday - kids don't understand danger. They need to be constantly reminded that they shouldn't talk to strangers, they shouldn't stray away from mummy's or daddy's side while out in the big wide world. I'm just very glad this little lad was safe, and he wasn't hurt. I haven't heard anything else since so I hope it really was an accident that he was out.

Which brings me back to Madeleine. We've all heard the story of the night she went missing - Thursday 3rd May 2007, whilst on holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal. We've all had our own thoughts on what may have happened to the little lady. But, we must remember that she is still missing. Someone, somewhere MUST know something.

If you, or someone you know, knows something - anything -sightings or information - then PLEASE contact either;
your local police force and +44845 8384699 or email investigation@findmadeleine.com
OR
Crimestoppers (in confidence) on 0800 555111 (www.crimestoppers-uk.org)

For more information about this campaign, search #blogging4madeleine and visit the website www.britmums.com/2013/05/will-you-blog-for-madeleine/

You can also visit www.findmadeleine.com for any information I have missed and please visit http://uk.missingkids.com/ to see if you can help in any way.

Here is a recent picture released of what she COULD look like now:





”Blogging4Madeleine”




8 comments:

  1. Its so sad, i really think she is still alive. Hoping she is eventually found

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  2. I found it hard to be blogging forthe second year,so I can't imagine how painful it is to be going through this. Hoping this is the last year we need to.

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  3. So, so sad. Hopefully this is the year that she'll be found.

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  4. I can't imagine what her parents are going through. I really hope that she is found

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  5. Very sad - hopefully she will be found!

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  6. I cant believe Madeleine would now be 10 years old, I pray someone finds her well one day

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  7. This is a great post. Thanks so much for supporting #Blogging4Madeleine xxx

    http://amummysview.com/2013/05/12/blogging4madeleine-blogging-4-madeleine-mccann-missing-children-worldwide/

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  8. She was such a pretty little girl, but realistically I dont know if she would be recognised now

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