Adelaide girl Grace Moores recalls ‘inspiring’ Katy Perry visit six years later

Grace Moores’ struggle with brain cancer brought the pop star all the way to the family lounge room during her last Adelaide visit – but you should see the teenager now.

There is a tear-jerking reason why Greenwith mum Marie Moores would have paid any amount of money to take daughter Grace interstate to see international pop sensation Katy Perry.

Diagnosed with brain cancer when she was only eight, Grace was unable to attend Perry’s 2018 The Witness Tour – despite having tickets – because she needed a major operation.

When the Roar singer heard of Grace’s story, she surprised the young fan with her own private concert.

“We were in a pretty low spot at the point, and she gave us so much strength,” Ms Moores said.

“She really touched all of our lives … it really means so much to us what she did.

“I wanted to take Grace regardless if we had to travel interstate.”

Now, with Perry announcing an Adelaide date to her 2025 tour – at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on June 26 – Grace will have a chance to see one of her favourite singers in her home town.

Grace Moores, 15, with her family, Chloe Moores, 12, Tiana Moores, Dale Moores, Aleysha Moores, Billy Moores and Marie Moores at home in Greenwith, 6 years after Katy Perry performed at her home. Picture: Matt Loxton

Grace Moores and her family with Katy Perry in 2018 . Picture Supplied by Family

Grace Moores and with Katy Perry in 2018 . Picture Supplied by Family

“When I saw it, I was pretty excited. I’m going to try and get some tickets,” Grace, 15, said.

The teenager, who is now in remission, has plans to make signs and T-shirts for the concert – if she manages to secure tickets that go on sale from October 1.

Grace was diagnosed in early 2018 after uncontrollably vomiting and getting severe headaches.

“We went to the GP at first and they kept saying ‘No, it’s fine, it’s just gastro’, but because I have a lot of siblings and no one else was getting it, we were a bit on edge,” Grace said.

“We went to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and from there we got a diagnosis.”

At first, Grace’s parents didn’t tell her she had brain cancer, referring to the tumour as a “growth”.

Katy Perry with an eight-year-old Grace Moores back in 2018 when she surprised her with a private concert. Pics: Facebook.

Grace Moores at home in Greenwith, 6 years after Katy Perry performed at her home. Picture: Matt Loxton

Grace Moores and her family with Katy Perry in 2018. Picture Supplied

Ms Moores, whose sister died when she was younger of a brain tumour, was worried Grace wouldn’t understand.

“We were worried she would think ‘I’m going to die, because my aunt had that and she died’,” Ms Moores said.

“We were very cautious about what we wanted her to know, because we wanted her to be strong and fight.”

In October that same year, after seven surgeries, a scan revealed Grace was cancer-free.

“Grace has yearly MRI scans now to make sure it doesn’t come back,” Ms Moores said.

Having gone through brain cancer, Grace said she doesn’t let it worry her too much.

“It could come back at any moment, so I want to do stuff while I’m capable,” she said.

And attending Katy Perry’s concert is high on her list.

Originally published as Adelaide girl Grace Moores recalls ‘inspiring’ Katy Perry visit six years later