The Mirror went behind-the-scenes at Katy Perry’s London O2 gig where the American singer met Pride of Britain winner Florrie Bark and her group of new friends, all of who have battled cancer
There were tears, hugs and face-aching grins when Katy Perry met Pride of Britain winner Florrie Bark and her new friends for a very special backstage party.
California Girls singer Katy, 40, took time out before her London O2 gig on Monday night to meet Florrie, nine, and eight other children who have been supported by Florrie’s award-winning cancer charity BeMoreFab.
“Are you real?” Katy, who was dressed as a blue robot, asked the children as she popped her head around the door of the green room and made them gasp in shock. “I know I’m real, but are you?”
Walking towards Florrie, Katy addressed her by name and asked the little girl to introduce her to all of her new friends.
Alana Bee, 16, who is recovering from cervical cancer, burst into tears as she met her idol. “Oh my god, I’ve just touched Katy Perry,” she gushed. “Touched me? Girlie-pop, you can hug me!” the singer told her before embracing the teen and telling her that she liked Alana’s makeup.
Later, Alana grinned: “I kissed Katy Perry – and I liked it! When she came in the room I was paralysed, then it hit me she was really there. I just sobbed and was hyperventilating.”
Her mum Vanya said the night out had done Alana the world of good. “She’d lost confidence since having tumours on her thyroid at the age of 14, and then last year being diagnosed with cervical cancer. She hasn’t been at school since Year 9 and when her beautiful long hair fell out she didn’t even want to leave the house.”
But inspired by the wonderful staff who have cared for her, Alana has just started at college and wants to be a pediatric oncology nurse, so she in turn can look after ill children.
Her new-found friend Amelie Flatt, 13 from Hitchen, was just as overwhelmed when Katy approached them. Eighteen months on from a bone marrow transplant to treat the cancer that has cropped up four times from childhood, Amelie is only just transitioning back into ‘normal’ life and returning to school.
She left virtually speechless when the popstar admired her make-up and home-made Fireworks t-shirt.
“I can’t believe I met her,” she beamed afterwards, wiping tears from her eyes. “Her songs bring so many happy memories from when I finally got to see my friends and stuff.
“When she told me my make-up was incredible, that is my biggest flex now. I’m never going to let that go – I need it on a t-shirt! At least I played it cool…”
Amelie added: “Katy said that I was really an amazing, strong person and that I inspire her.
“She promised to sing California Girls extra-loud for us.”
Her mum Sofia said proudly: “Katy was absolutely amazing, she gave them all so much of her time. What a beautiful human. That was such a special moment and Amelie will never, ever forget it.”
Of little Florrie from Corby, who last year won the Pride of Britain Child of Courage award for her indomitable spirit and tireless fundraising to help other children living with cancer, Katy said: “You are a queen. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Florrie is awaiting a lung transplant after complications from her bone marrow transplant, which she had after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia at the age of six.
She launched BeMoreFab with parents Andrew and Stacy, and raised more than £120,000 in just three months, which helps other children living with cancer to access tutors to catch them up with missed school work.
Turning to Andrew and Stacy and hugging them, Katy said: “You have produced a truly incredible human being.”
Katy, mum to Daisy Dove Bloom, five, who she shares with ex Orlando Bloom, spoke to each of the children – Emmy Whitmee, 9, of Rothwell, West Yorks; Ellerie Carroll, 9, of Bradford; Bella Shalgosky, 9, of Corby; Kaiden Edwards, 10, of High Wycombe, Bucks; Darcie Smith, 7, of Belfast and Ada Rumney, 8, of Eastlound near Doncaster.
She then insisted on meeting each of their parents and taking selfies.
And she made the children laugh as she told them they could stay up all night and didn’t have to listen to their mums and dads.
“Do we need them? Yes we do – to bring us stuff,” said Florrie, making the whole room burst into laughter. “They can go to the grocery store?” said Katy. “Yeah – and bring us medicines,” Florrie quipped.
“You know what they can’t do? They can’t tell us to go to bed any time soon,” Katy laughed, shooting a look over at the parents.
“We can stay up for five hours and listen to the music!” cheered Florrie.
Before leaving to get ready for her show, Katy told the children – who handed her a BeMoreFab rainbow friendship bracelet – that she would “never forget” them.
“Stay in the light,” she urged them, hugging them all once again. “You are the light. Hold this moment in your heart forever, OK? And I’ll never, ever forget you.
“I love you so much. You’re the best!”
With a swish of long black hair – into which shimmering strands of silver had been weaved – Katy departed for the stage, leaving the group in raptures.
“It was so nice to see how happy everybody was and some of the girls were crying,” said Florrie.
“Katy knows our names now and she remembered us!”
Bella Shalgosky, nine, was comforted by her best friend Emmy Whitmee – wearing matching pink shimmering outfits – as she sobbed with happiness. Later, the pair watched over the balcony of their VIP box at the O2, screaming out the lyrics as Katy performed all her high-octane greatest hits.
Bella is also from Corby, but she and Florrie had never met before Monday night – despite Andrew being her headteacher before he left to launch BeMoreFab. Florrie, who wore a blanket emblazoned with faces of her family members, said she and Bella will definitely stay in touch. “I’m going to get a Bella blanket!” she smiled.
Sean Reddington, co-CEO of Thrive Learning, who donated the use of the VIP suite so the children could enjoy a truly special night out, was thrilled that Katy had been so kind to them all.
“Florrie is such a special little girl and deserves to be treated, but she in turn wants to make other children happy,” he said. “She wanted to make new friends and give them a little moment of joy – and that’s what makes her so incredible.”
The children and their parents got to watch the entire show from the box, including when Katy appeared to confirm her romance with ex-Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, after photos of them emerged at the weekend canoodling on Katy’s private yacht.
Speaking to a fan in the crowd called Darren who was holding up a sign asking her to marry him, she joked: “Oh my god! You should have asked me 48 hours ago!”
Katy also poked fun at the breakdown of both her former relationships with shamed comedian Russell Brand and actor Orlando Bloom, laughing: “Look at this beautiful crowd. No wonder I fall for Englishmen all the time.”
Her mum Mary was also in attendance with little Daisy, and Katy quipped that she would no longer sing her risque hit Peacock, even though it is Daisy’s “favourite song”.
“Mom doesn’t like it – whoever wrote it should be very ashamed of themselves,” Katy told the crowd. “Yes, I wrote it – there we go. Mom is praying right now… she’s been praying since 2008!”
Up in the box, nine brilliant children partied right until the end of the show, waving glowsticks and swapping phone numbers so they can stay in touch.
“What a night,” grinned Florrie’s mum Stacy. “They were able to have one day where they weren’t just patients worrying about their next treatment or isolating in hospital. This will stay with us forever.”
READ MORE: Katy Perry breaks silence on romance with Justin Trudeau with cheeky quip on stage in London
