David Beckham makes Shrewsbury football fan Lloyd's day

The Shrewsbury schoolboy, who has been fighting cancer, met up with the global superstar while filming for Stand Up To Cancer, the joint national fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, which funds groundbreaking research to bring new and kinder treatments to patients to beat cancer sooner.

Beckham took time out of his busy schedule to meet the 11-year-old Meole Brace Primary School pupil, whose budding football career was tragically cut short when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour (medulloblastoma) in May last year.

Lloyd has undergone rigorous treatment for his cancer including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy which has left him with life-changing side effects and he now uses a wheelchair. Before his diagnosis, Lloyd had been scouted by clubs including his beloved Manchester United, as well as Aston Villa, Port Vale and Shrewsbury for their junior teams.

The surprise meeting, which was being aired during Stand Up To Cancer's TV show today, shows Lloyd talking to David about their shared passion for Manchester United and what David's been up to since retiring from his football career. David also quizzes Lloyd about any girlfriends he has at school and reveals some lessons which he's teaching his little girl Harper, the youngest of the Beckham brood.

Lloyd, who has been treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital, said: "I had no idea that I was going to meet David Beckham, it was such a brilliant surprise. He was really nice and we chatted lots. He told me a bit about his family and other normal stuff and we talked about football quite a lot too. I love football and Beckham is one of my favourite players so I'll always remember that day."

Lloyd and his family, parents Di and David and his two older sisters Hannah and Issy, are all rallying behind the campaign.

Di said: "It's an understatement to say that these past few months have been the hardest for our family; there are days that feel impossible to get through and unfortunately we know that there will be more difficult days to come. So it was such a joy to see Lloyd when he met David - he couldn't believe his eyes, he was so excited and for a few minutes he was speechless. The meeting with David provided Lloyd with a small respite from his every day challenges and brought a little bit of sunshine into his life. David chatted and really put Lloyd at ease, he was totally thrilled by the whole experience.

"Lloyd has been so brave and we're really proud of him. Sharing his story as part of Stand Up To Cancer is incredibly important to our whole family."

Earlier this year Lloyd went on to the pitch at Wembley Stadium as England played their last home match against Peru before they headed off to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

In 2012, Stand Up To Cancer's fundraising total exceeded £8m funding 12 clinical trials across the UK and this year's aim is to do even better.

The 2014 campaign is encouraging people to join the front line against cancer this autumn by fundraising, buying merchandise and tuning in to the live TV show on Channel 4.

• Visit the Stand Up To Cancer website