"If I’m honest, I would happily have gone through my life without ever contemplating running a marathon, or even a half-marathon for that matter!
"However, knowing what it’s like to be living with a child missing and believing very strongly in what the workers at the charity do in helping other families like mine, I realised it was a challenge that I had to take."
Kate and Jerry McCann live in Rothley, Leicestershire.
More than sixty thousand people have now signed an online petition calling for the Leveson recommendations on press regulation to be implemented in full.
The petition was launched yesterday by the father of Madeleine McCann from Leicestershire. The Prime Minister says he's opposed to a press watchdog backed by law. Victims of phone hacking victims, including 7/7 hero Paul Dadge from Staffordshire, say they feel they have been let down.
Gerry McCann has called on the Prime Minister to change his mind and give his backing for a new law to underpin the recommendations of the Leveson report.
The father of the missing Leicestershire schoolgirl has launched a petition in support of the victims of press intrusion.
David Cameron says parliament should resist bringing in a law **to regulate the press but political opponents including his own deputy Nick Clegg disagree.
Gerry McCann: "The public support is overwhelming"
by Alison MacKenzie
Gerry McCann speaking outside the Houses of Parliament today. He said the public's support following the Leveson report have been overwhelming. He added "politicians should listen to the public, if they don't, they usually run into problems."
Gerry McCann gives support to petition for changes following Leveson report
by Alison MacKenzie
Gerry McCann is giving his backing to the launch of a petition to put pressure on the authorities to implement the recommendations in the Leveson report.
Mr McCann and other victims of press intrusion say the proposals for a tough independent regulator to be underpinned by legislation should be implemented in full.
It follows the Prime Minister's statement in the Commons yesterday that he had 'misgivings' about introducing a new law .
The father of missing Madeleine McCann said legal backing for any new system was the "minimum acceptable compromise for me and for many other victims" and urged the Prime Minister to "do the right thing".
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I would have liked to have seen a properly independent regulation of the press, whereas I think he has given the press another opportunity of self-regulation."
It should be made compulsory and measures put in place make journalists more accountable, he said.
Kate and Gerry McCann arrive to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry last year. Credit: PA
He added: "But I do accept that full implementation of Lord (Justice) Leveson's report is the minimum acceptable compromise for me and I think for many other victims who have suffered at the hands of the press.
"The Prime Minister and our other elected politicians have an opportunity now to do the right thing. And if they do the right thing, for the public, then it will help restore a little confidence.
"I clearly respect his opinion but I personally disagree with the viewpoint and Lord (Justice) Leveson, as a senior law judge of our country, has made clear that what he is proposing is not a state-run press.
"It is a fine distinction but without the statutory underpinning this system will not work."
Kate McCann will be commenting today on the publication of the Leveson Report Credit: PA
Kate McCann will be giving a press conference this afternoon in response to the publication of the Leveson Report, the inquiry into media ethics. Mrs McCann will be speaking after David Cameron's statement to the House of Commons.
