Aunt joins runners to highlight Madeleine's plight

The aunt of missing Madeleine McCann will today raise awareness of the youngster’s plight by taking part in a massive road race.

Diane McCann is joining in the annual women’s 10K race in Glasgow this morning.

More than 15,000 women took part in last year’s event and an even bigger turn out is expected this year.

Mrs McCann, 39, from Glasgow, will be wearing a T shirt with a picture of her niece and the words “I’m running for Madeleine” on it for the race.

Madeleine vanished from her bed from the family’s holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, in the Algarve, Portugal, 10 days ago.

Last night her father Gerry McCann spoke of the “tidal wave” of devastation her disappearance has caused.

Since Madeleine went missing, relatives in Scotland have campaigned to keep the case in the public spotlight, in the hope that that could lead to vital information coming forward.

As part of that they have had hundreds of the T shirts made for today’s Resolution Asset Management Women’s 10K, which they are distributing to runners to wear.

They are also giving people yellow ribbons to wear round their wrists as a sign of hope for Madeleine’s safe return.

Relatives and friends will also be handing out fliers featuring the little girl’s photograph to runners and the crowd gathered in Bellahouston Park for the race.

Mrs McCann, who is married to Gerry’s brother John, said: “I’m not a runner, so I’m just going to walk the course but I will be wearing a T-shirt with Madeleine’s picture on and the words ’I’m running for Madeleine’.

“We just want to do everything we can to keep everyone thinking of Madeleine, so hopefully this will help.”

Mrs McCann said they had an “army” of supporters who were helping hand out the T-shirts, yellow ribbons and fliers.

She said: “The support we have had has been tremendous.”

Mrs McCann also spoke of the family’s ordeal since Madeleine disappeared, saying: “It’s difficult. We all have our moments, a song will come on the radio or sometimes if you see a child playing in the park, that will set you off.

“There are times when you feel distraught, but there is no point in sitting crying when we could be doing something about it, and that’s what we have all been doing.

“We’ve all been keeping really busy, and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes.”