For Paul and Kate MacIntyre, finding Madeleine McCann has revolved around efforts to keep the four-year-old's disappearance in the public eye. "We're terrified of it becoming yesterday's news," confessed Mrs MacIntyre.

The couple, both doctors, are part of a small group of close friends of Madeleine's parents, Gerry and Kate McCann, who are at the centre of the campaign to help publicise the little girl's kidnapping in Portugal.

For them, the one tangible hope they can cling to is that a high level of public awareness can only help someone, anyone, in identifying Madeleine.

"The longer things go on, the less interested the media becomes," said Dr Paul MacIntyre, a consultant cardiologist at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

"Realistically, we know that with any story, the publicity will reduce over time. If we can get a big bang so that Madeleine's face is recognised all over Europe and everyone has seen her eyes, we will have a much better chance of someone seeing her."

So far, their efforts have yielded amazing results. Through a network of around 10 couples in Glasgow, mostly doctors, and John McCann, Gerry's brother, they have seen prominent sportsmen, businessmen, celebrities and politicians become involved.

Dr MacIntyre was yesterday at the women's 10K race in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, handing out yellow ribbons to thousands of runners and well-wishers to wear in support of Madeleine's family. The roll call of those who have helped so far includes author JK Rowling, footballers Cristiano Ronaldo, John Terry, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham, and Sir Richard Branson, owner of the Virgin empire.

The Glasgow group also persuaded Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond to wear yellow ribbons at the weekend as a sign of the politicians' support.

Yesterday, Everton supporters held up a banner calling for the safe return of Madeleine, who has worn the club's strip, at their game against Chelsea.

Dr MacIntyre first met Gerry McCann at a running club in Coatbridge when he was a teenager. Mr McCann, from Mount Florida, was six years his junior. They became friends and remained in touch over the years - both of them decided to become doctors and both trained at Glasgow University before specialising in sports medicine.

Their paths crossed again when Dr McCann returned from New Zealand, with his wife Kate, and took over Dr MacIntyre's teaching post at Glasgow University.

Though the McCanns moved to Leicester, the couples have kept in touch and only six months ago Dr MacIntyre tried to persuade them to return to Glasgow so that Dr McCann could take up a vacant post in cardiology.

After Madeleine's disappearance, Dr MacIntyre first made contact with the McCanns through a mutual friend, Dr Andrew Renwick, also involved in the publicity campaign.

He finally spoke to Dr McCann last Wednesday and again after the church service held on Friday night in St Andrew's Roman Catholic Cathedral in Glasgow.

"After speaking to Gerry my attitude changed," Dr MacIntyre said. "He was so positive and focused. He said he didn't want us to sit around feeling sorry for them but to help. So that's what we've been doing.

"We spoke again after the service on Friday night. He said it had been a tremendous source of support and strength for the family." Like the McCanns, the MacIntyres have turned to their faith as a source of refuge and solace. But their ultimate source of strength is hope. "She's alive until proved otherwise," Dr MacIntyre said. "We're not going to give up until there is no hope."