Father of missing Claudia hails charity runners

Peter Lawrence, whose daughter vanished on March 18, 2009, said the Miles for Missing People event in London’s Regent’s Park provides “tremendous support”.

The run is attended by families whose loved ones have vanished.

Miss Lawrence was 35 when she was last seen near her York home, and North Yorkshire Police detectives have failed to find any trace of her.

The missing person inquiry was upgraded to a murder investigation the month after she vanished.

The charity run will take place on Saturday, just one day away from the third anniversary of her disappearance.

Mr Lawrence said: “It is very encouraging to see this event uniting so many people in the cause, bringing together hundreds of families and friends of the missing.

“As the search for Claudia continues, the tremendous support generated by Miles for Missing People is invaluable in helping people to cope with the consequences of someone in their life going missing, maximising the chances of finding them.”

Also attending the event, in aid of the charity Missing People, will be Rachel Elias, sister of former Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards, who disappeared in 1995.

Missing People chief executive Martin Houghton-Brown said: “We want as many people as possible to show their support, by taking part in Miles for Missing People or by coming along to cheer for our fantastic runners.”

Last week, Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the efforts of Peter Lawrence to overhaul the law to help families resolve the legal affairs of missing relatives. Mr Cameron acknowledged the “emotional and practical difficulties” faced by families whose loved ones had vanished when speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions.