
They are set to spend their ninth Christmas without their daughter since she disappeared in Portugal in 2007.

Now Kate and Gerry McCann have released a moving list of the things they miss about Madeleine as part of a campaign for the charity Missing People alongside 11 other families.

The couple paid tribute to their little girl's 'eyes, smile, laughter, dimples, sense of humour, smartness and singing'.

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Kate and Gerry McCann have compiled a moving list of 22 things they miss about their daughter Madeleine as they join other families of missing people for a Christmas charity campaign

KATE AND GERRY MCCANN LIST 22 THINGS THEY MISS ABOUT MADDIE Madeleine went missing from Praia da Luz in Portugal in 2007 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 Styling her hair Chasing her round the garden Sharing her excitement in the run up to Christmas Sharing anything Spoiling on her birthday Going to a cafe with her Holding her, hugging her, kissing the top of her head Lying next to her Our complete family of five Everything We miss her Advertisement

They also describes how they missed styling her hair, chasing her round the garden, sharing her excitement in the run up to Christmas, spoiling her on her birthday and their 'complete family of five'.

The couple also described how they miss holding Madeleine, hugging her and kissing the top of her head.

Madeleine was three years old when she disappeared from a holiday apartment in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia de Luz.

Her parents were eating dinner with friends 50 metres away and raised the alarm when Kate McCann went back to check on Madeleine and her twin sister and brother Sean and Amelie and realised she was missing.

Since then lines of inquiry have been explored including the theory that Madeleine was abducted by a paedophile, killed during a bungled burglary or that she wandered out of the apartment and was accidentally killed.

The Metropolitan Police was tasked with investigating the disappearance after her family made a personal plea to David Cameron in 2011.

Yet despite dozens of trips by officers to the Algarve, the inquiry – codenamed Operation Grange – has not led to any arrests and her disappearance remains a mystery.

The McCanns were one of 12 families that took part in the initiative, with photos displayed as part of the charity Missing People's Home for Christmas exhibition in London.

The exhibition formed part of the charity’s annual Home for Christmas Appeal which aims to raise £20,000 this year.

It aimed to raises awareness of the issue of missing in the build up to Christmas – a time of togetherness which many families describe as being the most painful.

Photographer James O Jenkins said: 'Photographing the different families for this exhibition showed me that this is a situation that can occur to any family no matter what background or area you are from.'

Each family was photographed by the door of their home to symbolise the hope their missing parents, sibling son or daughter will come home for Christmas.

And they have all written a personal message they hope their missing loved one will somehow see.

Here FEMAIL shares the stories of the families who are waiting in limbo for news of their missing relatives.

LEE BOXELL

Christine and Peter Boxell whose son Lee has been missing for 27 years took part in the campaign alongside the McCann's

Among the other families who have taken part are Christine and Peter Boxell, from London, whose son Lee has been missing for 27 years.

'I think of my missing son Lee every day of every year, but each Christmas has been especially difficult because it marks the passing of yet another year without finding Lee,' Peter told FEMAIL.

'The first Christmas without Lee, in 1988, was the hardest to cope with, not knowing whether to buy presents or lay a place for dinner at the table for Lee, in case he should return for Christmas.

'I tearfully wrote a Christmas card for Lee and placed it beside photos of Lee, next to a Christmas tree.

'It was intolerably hard to celebrate the holiday season, but necessary for the sake of Lee's younger sister.'

Lee was 15 when he went missing in 1988.

The teenager was last seen in Sutton high street where he met a friends and spent a few hours window shopping.

Police assumed he had gone to watch a football match at nearby Selhurst Park – but that was ruled out.

A nationwide search failed to uncover any significant evidence, but it was discovered that Lee used to spend time in a building at St Dunstan’s church, nicknamed ‘the Shed’.

It's now known to have been a gathering place for teenagers, who became a target for sexual predators.

His father has since written a song which was recorded by the Missing People Choir and proceeds from downloads will go to the charity Missing People.

'When I sing the song "I Miss You", I feel as if I am reaching out to my beloved and much missed son, Lee.

'The lyrics are telling Lee how I feel about him: "In my dreams, I see your face.

'Walk with you, hold you safe. Close my eyes, I think of you until the day I see you again. I never thought, I'd be without you, I'd always thought, you'd be here safe with me.

'I'm so empty and silent without you. Where are you now? Are you safe and well? May be tomorrow I'll wake up to find you. I miss you".'

Peter admits that it is hard to sustain hope that Lee will come home after all these years. 'Although hope fades over the many years, it never completely disappears,' he explained.

Paul Carter (left) has not been seen since 2007 and his family are still desperate for news. Lee Boxell (right) was 15 when he went missing in 1988. The teenager was last seen in Sutton high street

PAUL CARTER

Paul, then 22, went missing on an overnight ferry crossing from Portsmouth to St Malo in France in April 2007.

The labourer was travelling to France to help a group of friends renovate a house, but seemingly never arrived.

At first police believed he had accidentally fallen overboard, however they have since reopened the investigation into his disappearance.

'Every morning I pray for your return home,' his mother Theresa Humphries said. 'Every night I pray it may be tomorrow.'

'Every morning I pray for your return home. Every night I pray it may be tomorrow,' said Theresa Humphries, pictured, mother of missing Paul Carter

SHARON JOSEPH

Londoner Sharon Joseph has been missing for seven years, since her disappearance from Croydon in 2008 at the age of 48.

'Sharon I'm missing you,' her mother Mary said. 'I wonder that you haven't called. Let us know that you're well and happy.'

Mary Joseph (left), whose daughter Sharon has been missing for seven years, says she'd love her daughter to call and let her know that she's OK

Sharon Joseph, left, went missing from Croydon, London in 2008 at the age of 48. Matthew Green, right, then 26, went missing from Sittingbourne in Kent in 2010. He took money and identity documents, but let his mobile phone behind

MATTHEW GREEN

Matthew, then 26, went missing from Sittingbourne in Kent in 2010. A search of the self-employed roofer's personal belonging revealed that he seemed to have taken his birth cert, driving licence, bank card and around £1,700 in cash.

He'd also taken a card which allowed him to work on construction sites, but left his mobile phone behind.

His parents Pauline and Jim said: 'We love and miss you every minute of every day. It's an ache, a sadness, an emptiness that doesn't ever go away.'

Pauline and Jim Green say that missing their son Matthew is 'an ache' that never goes away

QUENTIN GODWIN

Quentin Godwin was born in England in 1973 and moved with his parents to New Zealand at the age of two, living first on Waiheke Island and then in Titirangi, West Auckland.

One afternoon in 1992, the 18-year-old left home to go to his after-school job and hasn't been seen since.

It's been 23 years since Sarah Godwin's son Quentin - right - went missing in New Zealand at the age of 18. Sarah now lives in Dunsfold, Surrey and still hopes Quentin will one day walk through her door

More than 20 years on his family are scattered in different parts of the world, but they continue to search for him.

'Quentin has never seen our front door,' his mother Sarah, who now lives in Dunsfold, Surrey, said. 'But if he were to walk in this Christmas it would be the greatest moment for us all.'

REBECCA CARR

Lynn Carr (right) is still waiting to hear from her daughter Rebecca who hasn't been seen since 2002

Rebecca Carr was 22 when she went missing from Gillingham in Kent in 2002 after being dropped off near the railway station by her grandparents.

Her mother Lynn said: 'We sit here with the door ajar, wishing on the brightest star. Waiting on the phone to text. Hurry on home Bex.'

Rebecca Carr, left, was 22 years old when she disappeared after being dropped off at a railway station in Gillingham in Kent by her grandparents. The disappearance of 16-year-old Mary Flanagan, right, is London's oldest missing person case

MARY FLANAGAN

The disappearance of Mary Flanagan is London's oldest missing person case.

On New Year's eve 1959, the 16-year-old kissed her younger siblings goodbye and left the family home in West Ham.

Mary Flanagan's siblings Eileen, Brenda and Kevin last saw their sister when she kissed them goodbye on New Year's Eve 1959

She was never seen again, but her family believe she eloped with a boyfriend. Her siblings wrote to her: 'Mary these words are short and sweet. We would love you to make contact to make our lives complete. Love Eileen, Brenda and Kevin.'

THOMAS MOORE

In July 2013, Thomas Moore went to a cash point in Ancona, Northern Italy where he was travelling and withdrew 150 euros.

It was his last known financial transactions, and his family have not seen or heard from him since.

He struggled with mental health problems, and his sister has said she believes he felt he needed to remove himself from the family.

'Our thoughts are with Tom every day,' Dee Brown said. 'We wonder where he is and we pray that one day he will come back to us.

'The "not knowing" can sometimes be worse than anything.'

Dee Brown says her thoughts are with her missing brother Tom every day, since he disappeared two and a half years ago

Thomas Moore (left) suffered from mental health problems and his sister says she believes he may have decided to remove himself from the family when he went missing in Italy in 2013. Anthony Stammers, right, was reported missing from Colchester, Essex three years ago, aged 27, after he failed to show up for his grandfather's funeral

ANTHONY STAMMERS

Three years ago Anthony Stammers, 27, was reported missing from Colchester, Essex after he failed to show up for his grandfather's funeral.

He had texted his mother the night before to ask her to make sure his black trousers were ready for the ceremony.

His mum Julie keeps a candle constantly burning for Anthony in the hope he will be found.

'We love you and miss you Ant, today and every day,' his family said. 'Please get in touch somehow to let us know you're safe and well.'

Julie Stammers and her family keep a candle constantly burning for her son Anthony in the hope he will be found

TREVOR PATRICK O'DONNELL

Trevor O'Donnell, also known as Patrick, has been missing since 1994. He was 23, when he disappeared from Canterbury in Kent.

His mother recalled a 'tall, blue-eyed, slim but strong' man who loved physics and art and was 'adored by all his family'.

Tina O'Donnell misses her son Trevor, also known as Patrick, who loved physics and art and was 'adored by all his family.'

Trevor 'Patrick' O Donnell, pictured as a child left, went missing from Canterbury in Kent at the age of 23. James Moodie, right, went missing in 1998 at the age of 23. His car was found at a railway station four months after his disappearance

JAMES MOODIE

James Moodie's family have not seen him since 1998. He was 30 years old when he disappeared from Faversham, Kent.

On the day he disappeared, he'd been shopping with his mother Doris and vanished from the family home a few hours later.

His car was found abandoned at Sellindge railway station a few months later.

'James, please get in touch,' his mother said. 'We would love to hear from you. We miss you every day.'

Doris Moodie had been on a shopping trip with her son James on the day he vanished from the family home in Faversham, Kent

These 12 families represent just some of the loved ones affected by the estimated 250,000 people who going missing each year in the UK alone.

Photographer James O Jenkins said: 'This work began when I saw the staggering figures of the amount of people that go missing in the UK each year.

'Photographing the different families for this exhibition showed me that this is a situation that can occur to any family no matter what background or area you are from.'

Missing People Chief Executive Jo Youle said: 'For the families of missing people, the thought of Christmas without their loved one is heart-breaking. This exhibition will give the public the opportunity to stand with these families missing a loved one, by sharing messages of hope and supporting our annual Home for Christmas Appeal so Missing People can continue to be a lifeline when someone disappears.'