Kate writes this about the reward.
Alex Woolfall told us that the News of the World, spearheading a group of other benefactors – including Bill Kenwright, the theatre impresario and chairman of Everton FC, businessmen Sir Richard Branson and Sir Philip Green and Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling – was prepared to put up a reward ‘package’ totalling £1.5 million. It would involve companies such as British Airways and Vodafone helping with publicity and awareness initiatives. They needed to know by the following day whether we would like them to proceed. This may sound like a no-brainer, but we had to be careful. We hadn’t a clue how such rewards worked. Would the police be involved? Who would coordinate any ransom negotiations? How would we actually get hold of all this money if necessary? And, most importantly, what were the potential pitfalls? Surely it could lead to fraudulent claims that might waste valuable time and resources. We had no idea, either, what implications this might have for Madeleine’s safety.
Under pressure to make a decision, we solicited advice from various quarters, which confirmed that this kind of thing could indeed be a bit of a double-edged sword. We felt that, on balance, the pros outweighed the cons, thanked all the participants and accepted the offer, as much because we did not want to turn down any corporate help as anything else. With the £100,000 from my GP colleague and a staggering £1 million added by Stephen Winyard – the owner of Stobo Castle spa in the Scottish Highlands and a man who had so far never even met us – the rewards promised now totalled £2.6 million.
McCann, Kate (2011-05-12). Madeleine (pp. 121-122). Random House UK. Kindle Edition. McCann, Kate (2011-05-12). Madeleine (p. 121). Random House UK. Kindle Edition.
It is clear the reward was orchestrated by the News of the World. As the newspaper is no longer in print I suspect the reward is no longer available, however as they were part of Murdoch's empire, confirmation from News International as to whether the reward is available or not would clarify matters.
The McCanns, by all accounts, had to give their permission for a reward to be offered as offers came flooding in and the reward was being spearheaded by the News of the World. It is obvious the McCanns would promote the reward and even visit the sight where the giant inflatable advertising the reward was placed.
However what I do find interesting is the Survival guide about having a child who is missing and what they say about rewards, especially the part about using your own finances.
Do not use your personal funds to finance the reward. As hard as it may be, refrain from using your own personal funds for the reward. Based on the terms and conditions spelled out in the reward offer, you may be liable for payment of the reward, and you may even be sued. And though you may not realize it in the beginning, you may be faced with financial constraints months or years later, for example, if you are out of work for an extended period of time helping in the search for your child
http://www.scribd.com/doc/61046626/Family-Survival-When-Your-Child-Goes-MissingChapter 6 is well worth a read.
We can all sit here, post and say how we would react if our child went missing. What you think you might do, could be completely different to what you would actually do if you were in that situation. If your child was missing, you would move heaven and earth to get your child back. You would use the media to keep your child's profile high. A family with a missing child never give up hope.
