http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/625872/Madeleine-McCann-Heartache-Christmas
'We miss Madeleine's Xmas excitement' McCanns share heartache in run-up to Christmas
THE parents of Madeleine McCann have told in a heart rending message how they bitterly miss sharing their daughter's excitement in the run up to Christmas as well as her smile, her dimples and her "chat".
By TRACEY KANDOHLA
PUBLISHED: 00:00, Thu, Dec 10, 2015 | UPDATED: 21:21, Thu, Dec 10, 2015
Kate and Gerry McCann's poignant long list of what they most miss about Maddie accompanies a powerful image of the couple standing at the front door of their home.
The new picture snapped for charity Missing People's Home for Christmas Exhibition is among 12 pictures of families of lost loved ones who are suffering the same heartache.
Wistful Kate and Gerry, whose daughter vanished more than eight-and-a-half years ago, are captured standing on the doormat of their comfortable detached house in Rothley, Leics, with arms wrapped around each other - waiting for their daughter's return.
Green and yellow ribboned floral tributes, symbolising hope and solidarity, adorn the cast-iron wall lights.
A charity spokesperson says: "These powerful images depict these families standing by their front door, symbolising the hopes and fears experienced by those who are desperately searching and waiting for news."
Heart doctor Gerry and former GP Kate, both 47, are casually dressed as they pose for the shot which has been on public view in London until a few weeks ago.
It has been taken by photographer James O Jenkins (crct) and formed part of an exhibition at The crypt at St-Martin-in-the-Fields at Trafalgar Square to highlight the thousands of people across Britain who are living in limbo after the disappearance of a family member.
Kate and Gerry refuse to give up hope of finding their eldest child, who would now be aged 12. She disappeared from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz in May 2007 just days before her fourth birthday. The couple have been buoyed up by recent news that an abducted boy in America was found alive after 13 years.
Underneath their photo they list "What we miss about Madeleine." Among the 22 special things mentioned are "sharing her excitement in the run up to Christmas" and "spoiling her on her birthday".
Other words conjure up a picture of the kidnapped youngster - "her smile, her laughter, her eyes, her dimples, her sense of humour, her smartness, her imitations of people and characters, her voice, her 'chat', her company, that knowing look, her singing."
