Video<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mariella, from a village a few miles east of York, died in March when the car she was driving was in collision with a tractor near Everingham, between Pocklington and Holme-on-Spalding-Moor.<\/p>\n
A huge fan of Tom Grennan, she had met him on several occasions. And Mariella was due to attend his Music Showcase concert this Saturday with father Chris.<\/p>\n
Before the concert, Chris wasn\u2019t sure if the message had got through. <\/p>\n
But as soon as Tom walked onto the stage, he immediately dedicated the evening\u2019s performance to Mariella, asking the audience to \u201cplace her in their hearts\u201d before inviting thousands of concertgoers to applaud her memory.<\/p>\n
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Dad Chris and friends at the York Racecourse concert. Photograph: Supplied<\/p>\n
The tribute continued throughout the evening and reached an emotional climax as Tom closed the show with Mariella\u2019s favourite song, A Little Bit of Love. <\/p>\n
Before performing the song, he once again dedicated it to Mariella before walking into the crowd to embrace her father, Chris, in a deeply moving moment witnessed by thousands.<\/p>\n
Chris told YorkMix said the dedication at the start of the show \u201cabsolutely floored me. That was just so beautiful and so heartfelt. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd all the way through, he kept looking at me \u2013 because we\u2019ve met several times \u2013 and touching his heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just in tears all the way through. I can\u2019t lie, I was in absolute floods of tears.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was invited backstage at the end of the concert and spent an hour talking to Tom and the band.<\/p>\n
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Mariella and Tom. Photograph: Family<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said we\u2019ve all had some tears over the last couple of days. So I knew, you know, genuinely, I think this had affected them,\u201d Chris said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t go into details what we said because I don\u2019t think that\u2019s right. But we had a good chat together and a good heart to heart. All the band were lovely with me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only thing that was really sad about this is that my daughter wasn\u2019t there. Everything else was beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, they had met the band Monotones who were playing at York Races. \u201cThey played Mariella\u2019s celebration after after the funeral. So it was great to see them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018Be More Mariella\u2019<\/p>\n
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Team Mariella at the racecourse. Photograph: Supplied<\/p>\n
Mariella had many friends, and the concert was very important to them too.<\/p>\n
Poppy Green, one of Mariella\u2019s school and work friends from Market Weighton, said: \u201cTom Grennan dedicating not only the whole concert but also the final song to Mariella meant so much to so many people. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn those moments, thousands of people came together to remember a beautiful soul, and it became so much more than just a performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat made it even more special was seeing complete strangers come over to ask about the fund for Mariella, share their condolences, or simply tell us how touched they were. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe message was spreading, and so was Mariella\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n
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Photograph: Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cThe quote on the back of our shirts read, \u2018Be More Mariella\u2019. The people who stopped to ask, who showed kindness, compassion and genuine care, may never have known Mariella personally, but in those moments they were doing exactly that, they were being more Mariella. <\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Tom, for using your platform to honour her in such a meaningful way. It created conversations, raised awareness, and reminded everyone that kindness can have a lasting impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Will Turner, from Barmby Moor, added: \u201cMariella truly was the best person I have ever met, she was kind, smart and cared about every little thing. <\/p>\n
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With Monotones at York races. Photograph: Supplied<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though she struggled with her dyslexia I never once heard her complain or give up, she always tried and tried again and I think that\u2019s something we should all admire and strive to be like.<\/p>\n
\u201cTom Grennan was her absolute idol, as he struggled with dyslexia too and they met several times, which Mariella always boasted about, it was so beautiful for him to dedicate his York races show to our friend and it means so much to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Helping others<\/p>\n
The tribute also helped raise awareness of the newly established Mariella Rose Foundation. <\/p>\n
Mariella had dyslexia \u2013 as does Tom Grennan, which was a shared bond between them. The foundation aims to improve opportunities for young people with dyslexia by helping to remove barriers to assessment, support and opportunity, ensuring more young people can fulfil their dreams.<\/p>\n
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Friends Jess Sheff and Jake Levitt. Photograph: Supplied<\/p>\n
Throughout the day, many concertgoers approached Mariella\u2019s family and friends to learn more about her story, offer their condolences and ask how they could support the foundation\u2019s work. <\/p>\n