The Football Association has selected Teenage Cancer Trust as its official charity partner during The FA’s 150th anniversary year.

Kicking off the partnership with a £150,000 donation from the 2012 FA Community Shield, The FA aims to raise at least £300,000. It could help Teenage Cancer Trust provide over 3,500 hours of vital support and care from teenage cancer specialists. It will also deliver cancer education talks for over 18,000 young people in local schools, colleges and universities around England.

The 18-month partnership will also see The FA become a major player in the development of Teenage Cancer Trust specialist facilities in south-west England.

England midfielder Frank Lampard was delighted to hear The FA was supporting Teenage Cancer Trust as part of its 150th anniversary. He said: “I was very pleased when I found out as it's a great team for The FA to be involved with. It's very important to me as I've worked closely with the Teenage Cancer Trust. It's a fantastic charity with very good people working at the heart of it. The money raised makes such a difference to these kids’ lives.”

FA General Secretary Alex Horne: “I am delighted The FA has chosen Teenage Cancer Trust to be its charity partner. It’s a fantastic cause and the work it does to help teenagers who have been diagnosed with cancer is inspiring and, more importantly, life changing.

“Teenage Cancer Trust provides amazing support for these youngsters during a very difficult time in their lives. I hope The FA, our staff and fans up and down the country can help us reach our £300,000 target.”

Simon Davies, Chief Executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We are ecstatic to have been chosen as The FA’s charity partner for 2013/14. We’re the only charity in the UK dedicated to giving young people aged 13-24 with cancer the best possible quality of life and chances of survival, so we’re particularly excited about this partnership and the huge potential it has to raise vital funds and awareness.

“Football is a powerful force for good – it spans generations and reaches out to young people, families and whole communities. Just as football is about solidarity, so is Teenage Cancer Trust about bringing young people with cancer together to be treated by experts in an environment tailored to their needs. Together we will do great things for young people with cancer and their families.”