ASTON Villa players are calling on their fans to help poorly children by supporting a charity campaign.

Gabby Agbonlahor, Stephen Ireland, Richard Dunne and Darren Bent are backing Acorns Children’s Hospice’s NOW Is The Time campaign, which aims to raise enough cash to fund 25,000 days of care and will also mark the charity’s 25th anniversary in 2013.

Six months into the campaign and funding for 6,163 days has already been secured.

Mr Agbonlahor, player ambassador for Acorns – which has a hospice in Bath Road, Worcester – said: “Now the season is over and the weekends are freed up, we want the fans to use this time to show support and put a few hours towards fund-raising. It will help so many life-limited children in our region.”

Elinor Eustace, corporate partnerships manager at Acorns, said: “Fund-raising can be as little or as much of a commitment as people like.

“For example, signing up to a run, taking part in one of our exciting events or challenges, to holding a football-themed pub quiz.”

Acorns can provide advice, support, fund-raising ideas and materials, such as balloons and posters.

To find out more about the charity’s work and how to support it, call 0845 120 6892 or visit acorns.org.uk