Kate McCann has revealed she believes missing daughter Madeleine is still alive

Kate McCann has revealed she believes missing daughter Madeleine is still alive in the Algarve.She is convincedMadeleinenever went far from the Praia da Luz resortwhere she was snatched on May 3 2007 - despite thousands of reportedsightings of her around the world.Launching a campaign to get a million people to sign up for missing child alerts, Kate said: “Praia da Luz is where I feel closest to her.“That’s where she last was and I don’t think she’s been taken a millionmiles from there.”As well as thescores of apparent sightings, other theories on the tot’s disappearance include that she might have been rushed out of Portugal and sold to a childless couple.But Kate, 47, said that her and husband Gerry’s years of research has taught them that kidnapped children are not usually taken far away. “It’s all only speculation, but we’ve learned that’s usually the case,” she said.Kate is heading up a two-week drive to get a million people in the UK to register for free Child Rescue Alerts (CRAs).
The scheme, funded by the Royal Mail, sends appeals to phones, computers, and tablets when a child vanishes.Kate thinks if the scheme had been around back in 2007 then Maddie, aged three at the time, may have been found within hours. “It’s nearly nine years and that’s so ridiculous and so unbelievable,” she said.“You think ‘gosh that could have been hours, or a day’.“If enough people had been mobilised and galvanised early then who knows what the outcome would have been.”With Maddie’s 13th birthday approaching in May, Kate said: “Nineyears. Time just goes too quickly. It’sthe quiet times that are tough. “Times when you are thinking about her - or something related to her.”DespiteScotland Yard’s probe into Madeleine’s abduction being scaled down, her parents insist they will continue to search for her.Kate said: “The urge to look for Madeleine absolutely hasn’t changed at all.“You hear all the time about people who have been missing for years being found.
“We will never give up. You couldn’t settle if you thought about giving up.“I want an end, an answer. Whatever that is.”To register and receive Child RescueAlerts, text HERO and your postcode to 85080.Only about six alerts per year are likely to be sent when police believe the life of a missing child is in immediate danger.Registration costs a standard network text message rate.It is free to sign up atwww.childrescuealert.org.uk