An online fundraiser set up by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has made more than $3 million in the wake of the player’s cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football this week.
Hamlin collapsed on the field during the first quarter of the game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. According to the Bills, Hamlin’s heartbeat was restored on the field, and he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he is currently in critical condition.
In the wake of the incident, fans have flocked to the GoFundMe page of Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which he established in 2020 with an effort to buy toys for kids in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh.
GoFundMe verified the page was Hamlin’s on Twitter.
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The initial goal was $2,500; as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, donations had reached $3.4 million.
Damar Hamlin started fundraiser to give back to his community
Hamlin started the fundraising page in 2020 following his college football career at the University of Pittsburgh, and prior to being drafted by the Bills in the sixth round in 2021.
Hamlin opened his fundraising appeal with a heartfelt salute to his community: “As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me.”
According to NPR, prior to Monday night, Hamlin’s charity page had raised slightly more than $2,900.
Many of those who donated included a quick message to Hamlin and his loved ones, such as “Prayers from Carpet Man Flooring” and “Love from a Niner fan.”
Monday’s game was suspended with 5:58 to go in the first quarter.
