The yellow and green balloons drifted away as observers applauded, Portuguese television showed. The event, one of 300 reportedly scheduled to take place around the world, was part of the McCann family's effort to draw attention to child abuse. Gerry McCann, Madeleine's father, said balloons were to be launched the same day from almost 300 places to focus attention on missing or abducted children.In Madrid, children released more than 300 balloons. Organizers said 50 represented the days since Madeleine disappeared, and 154 symbolized the days since a 7-year-old Spanish boy, Yeremi Vargas, disappeared from Spain's Canary Islands. The rest were to symbolize missing children around the world. (Washington Post)
