British billionaire Richard Branson pledged to donate 100,000 pounds to a fund that will help the parents of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann pay their legal expenses, media reports said Sunday.

Branson, the boss of Virgin Group expressed his hope that other wealthy persons who are convinced that both Gerry and Kate McCann are innocent will contribute to this fund. The parents are trying to clear their tarnished reputations after Portuguese investigators declared them formal suspects in the disappearance of their daughter.

Reportedly, the McCanns planed to sell their houses to pay lawyers and other legal fees. The powerful businessman said he has closely followed Madeleine’s case and decided to step in and offer a financial support to the aggrieved parents.

“In the midst of all of this speculation and rumor, we must remember there is a family in pain and a little four-year-old girl is still missing,” Branson was quoted as saying by Reuters.

“We must not lose sight of this fact. It is the only solid fact we know. The search for Madeleine must not let up for one moment,” he added.

The McCanns returned last Sunday to Britain, but may have to return to Portugal if the judge currently examining the case decides to press charges against them.

After police named them suspects, the parents had to deal with criticism coming from numerous persons and different speculations appeared in the media.

It has been speculated that Madeleine was accidentally killed by her parents, who allegedly gave her an overdose of sleeping pills and then tried to cover up the toddler’s death.

Kate and Gerry McCann, who are both doctors, denied the allegations saying they are not involved in their daughter’s disappearance and refuse to believe she is dead.

The father said “there is no evidence to suggest that Madeleine is dead.” Recently the parents announced they will launch a new advertising campaign to bring the child’s disappearance into the spotlight.

The campaign will be launched in two weeks and will focus on Portugal, Spain and other countries in Europe. Both Kate and Gerry McCann said they will not give up and continue to search for their daughter, who went missing on May 3.

About 80,000 pounds from the Madeleine Fund will be spent on television, newspaper and billboards adverts.