I kissed Katy Perry ... and I liked it

LIFE could not Bemorefab for Pride of Britain winner Florrie Bark and eight other young cancer superstars after Katy Perry swept into their backstage party and teased: "Are you real?

- BY EMMELINE SAUNDERS Feature Writer

The pop star, 40, who was dressed as a blue robot, popped her head around the door of the green room and made them gasp in shock as she asked: "I know I'm real but are you?"

The California Gurls singer took time out before her London 02 gig on Monday night to meet Florrie, nine, and eight other youngsters diagnosed with cancer, who have been supported by Florrie's charity Bemorefab.

Katy addressed Florrie by name and asked the little girl to introduce her to her new friends. Alana Bee, 16, who is recovering from cervical cancer, burst into tears. "Oh my god, I've just touched Katy Perry," she said. "Touched me? Girlie-pop, you can hug me!" the singer told her, before embracing Alana and declaring she liked her makeup.

Later Alana, of Grimsby, Lincs, joked: "I kissed Katy Perry - and I liked it! When she came into the room I was paralysed, then it hit me she was really there. I 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 Alana has just started at college and wants to be a paediatric oncology nurse so she too can look after ill children. Amelie Flatt, 13, of Hitchen, Herts, was just as overwhelmed. Eighteen months on from a bone marrow transplant to treat the cancer that has cropped up four times, Amelie is now returning to school.

She was almost speechless when Katy admired her makeup and homemade Firework T-shirt.

"I can't believe I met her," she said, wiping away tears. "Her songs bring so many happy memories from when I finally got to see my friends and stuff.