The Bull pub in Hemel Hempstead, which raised more than £1,500 towards the fund for missing toddler Madeleine McCann, has now decided to donate the money to Iraq soldiers instead.
Pub landlord Ricky Hampton made the decision after the parents of the four-year-old, who went missing in Portugal six months ago, became suspects in the police investigation.
The £1,570 total is now earmarked for Help For Heroes.
Mr Hampton exp
lained: "We chose the charity because I served in Iraq during the war and I want to support my fellow soldiers because they don't get enough help from the Government.
"Once we find what's happening with the Madeleine McCann case we will be able to decide whether to make a donation."
Mr Hampton confirmed that a charity football match, again originally in support of the Find Madeleine Fund, will go ahead and the money raised will go to the pub's new chosen charity.
Mr Hampton is now busy trying to persuade celebrities to play against the pub team and if HeraldExpress readers would like to play, they can contact him on 01442 268912, or find out more about Help For Heroes at
www.helpforheroes.org.ukl Since Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann were named official suspects, they have not used money from the Find Madeleine Fund, but the rate of donations to help find their daughter has slowed.
The current amount of £1,095,223.50, published on the Find Madeleine website, shows that less than £100,000 has been donated since July, when the amount stood at £1million.
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