Gabriel Agbonlahor praises Aston Villa fans as club aim to raise £100,000 for charity

Gabby Agbonlahor today backed the generosity of Villa fans as the club look to raise £100,000 for Acorns.

The forward reckons the claret and blue army can help set a fundraising record on Villa's third Acorns Day against Stoke on March 23.

Villa have a long-standing relationship with Acorns and became the first Premier League side to use a charity instead of a sponsor on their shirt in 2008.

Last year the club and fans raised £93,000 – smashing the £50,000 target – on Acorns Day and this time Agbonlahor believes they can go further.

"It's an ambitious target but hopefully there are a lot of generous people out there and people can put their hands in their pockets," he said.

"We're not asking for a lot of money and everyone knows the charity. It's a big thing, raising money for charity is big for a lot of players but this one means a lot to me because it's for kids.

"We're excited for the Acorns Day, it's going to be a big day especially with the game we have."

The players will also dig deep and Agbonlahor – Villa's ambassador for Acorns – admitted it will be easy to ask his team-mates to pay up.

"I'll be looking around the dressing room, it's the same as last season. We'll get into the players and last year everyone agreed to a set amount. I'll have to ask for double this season though," said the 27-year-old.

"We get a lot of stick in the press and people think we're not normal human beings but we have a generous squad. It is important to give to charities and even if players have others they are involved in they still want to make that donation.

"We can't be asking for other people to donate if we're not donating ourselves. It's the right thing to do."

Villa are unbeaten on Acorns Day – a 1-0 win over Fulham in 2012 and a 3-2 victory against QPR last year – and Agbonlahor believes the fundraising efforts can inspire the players.

He said: "The day can give the fans a lift and the players more confidence. With the fanbase Villa have it's crazy, not just in Birmingham but around the world, and Acorns is such a big thing.

"If we win this time we'll have to have Acorns Day every home game."

Should Villa hit their £100,000 target the money would help Acorns run a ten-bed hospice for a fortnight.

Agbonlahor and Marc Albrighton met Hugh Murphy from Sheldon at Bodymoor Heath with Hugh's family relying on Acorns as a lifeline.

Hugh turns four the day after Acorns Day and has regular overnight stays at the hospice to give parents, Villa fans Emma and Stephen who also have son Sean, a break from the constant care he needs.

Hugh does not have an overall diagnosis, sometimes referred to as SWAN – syndrome without a name – but does have a suspected genetic condition with a severe and rare form of epilepsy.

Mum Emma said: "Hugh is very severely disabled so his development is at around the same stage as a three month old. He can't sit, stand, walk or talk and is fed through a tube in his stomach.

"His epilepsy is life-threatening as he can stop breathing for long periods of time and as a result, he has to sleep with an oxygen monitor and alarm. We're constantly on high alert."

Text AVFC125 to 70070 to donate £5 and AVFC1210 to donate £10 and for more information visit www.acorns.org.uk/acornsday