Kate McCann set for 500-mile cycle from Edinburgh

Kate McCann: Edinburgh charity cycle. Picture: PA

Kate McCann spoke as she announced that she will lead a 500-mile bike ride from Edinburgh to London in June to raise £10,000 for a missing persons charity.

Madeleine was three when she went missing from her family’s holiday apartment in Portugal’s Algarve on May 3, 2007, as parents Kate and Gerry dined at a nearby tapas restaurant with friends.

Mrs McCann, who is fundraising for Missing People, of which she is an ambassador, said: “As the eighth anniversary of our daughter Madeleine’s abduction is upon us, I’m more driven than ever to continue the search for Madeleine and to help other families who face the pain of a child being missing.

“All of us can play a part in helping this important charity.”

Mrs McCann will lead 20 cyclists on a Cycle Challenge starting at Arthur’s Seat on June 13. They will then take in Newcastle, York, Nottingham and Northampton before finishing at the Tower of London on June 17.

Madeleine’s disappearance is one of the most famous missing persons cases of all time.

Last week her parents won a libel payout against Portuguese detective Goncalo Amaral, who had been on trial over claims he made in a book and a documentary that the couple were involved in Madeleine’s disappearance in Praia da Luz. In a written verdict, a Lisbon court agreed that Mr Amaral should pay Mr and Mrs McCann £179,000 each in damage.

The verdict came as it was revealed no further action will be taken against dozens of people accused of targeting online abuse at the family. Anti-abuse campaigners had compiled a dossier of names after becoming alarmed at the threatening nature of some tweets, posts and messages on online forums directed at Kate and Gerry McCann

Missing People is launching a fundraising effort alongside Mrs McCann’s ride. #Missfor May encourages people to give up a luxury for May and donate the money they save.

Its chief executive, Jo Youle, said: “We are hugely grateful to Kate McCann for taking on this incredible challenge to help missing people and their families across the UK.”

• To donate to Kate McCann’s Cycle Challenge visit justgiving.com/KateMcCann.