Florida

Demi Lovato Brings Parkland Students Onstage at Concert

Before Monday's concert, she held a mental health awareness workshop which the students attended as well

Several of the students who survived this month's Florida school shooting were brought onstage during a concert by popular singer Demi Lovato two days before the students returned to classes.

The "Let It Go" and "Cool for the Summer" singer paid tribute to the students at the start of her tour's kick-off concert in San Diego on Monday, offering a way for her fans to donate money that would be applied to mental health resources for students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, whose classes re-started on Wednesday.

Julius Castillo, Mackenzie Marie Chapman, Samantha Megan Deitsch, Maia Hebron, Eden Hebron and Sarah Stricker appeared in shirts that said MSDSTRONG.

Stricker tweeted a selfie with Lovato, writing, "Thank you for everything you have ever helped me with @ddlovato #staystrong #tellmeyoulovemetour #neveragain #msdstrong6."

Lovato, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, has long been an advocate for mental health awareness. Before Monday's concert, she held a mental health awareness workshop, as she did before shows on a previous tour, which the Stoneman Douglas students attended after being flown out to San Diego.

"It was such an honor to meet them and hear their courageous stories," Lovato said in a statement. "I want to make sure their voices are being heard and we can provide them with the mental health and post trauma care they need."

The mental health workshops are run by Mike Bayer, founder and CEO of CAST Centers, who helped Lovato with her treatment and recovery, according to the statement. The donations she solicited whent to the CAST Foundation, which planned to apply the funds to mental health resources for Parkland students.

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