Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, fell on the field during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, prompting an avalanche of donations from well-wishers to a campaign he started two years ago.
As Christmas early Tuesday morning, Hamlin’s community toy drive on GoFundMe had raised more than $2 million from thousands of new donors. When he established the fundraiser in December 2020, he had a $2,500 objective in mind. However, the amount raised beyond his expectations.
After completing a tackle, the 24-year-old player tumbled to the ground in a terrifying moment shown live on “Monday Night Football” He was administered CPR and sent to the University of Cincinnati Hospital as the evening game was suspended.
A second-year NFL player was brought to the hospital, where his condition remains critical.
According to his agency, Hamlin was placed on a breathing tube and his vital signs returned to normal at the hospital.
In 2020, the University of Pittsburgh graduate created his own charity called “Chasing Ms” in order to give back to the community.
His first charitable endeavor was the 2020 toy drive, in which he earned funds to purchase and distribute toys to Kelly and Nina’s Daycare Center in his hometown of McKees, Pennsylvania.
Hamlin stated on the fundraising page, “As I continue on my path to the NFL, I will never forget where I came from, and I am determined to using my platform to positively benefit the community that reared me.” “I formed The Chasing M’s Foundation as a vehicle to deliver this impact, and the 2020 Community Toy Drive is the inaugural program.”
After collapsing at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on January 3, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio, a vigil is held for Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills.
Hamlin hosted the third annual toy drive for Chasing Ms a week ago, according to his most recent Instagram post.
Hamlin stated in a video from the holiday toy drive, “We’re doing it for the kids, and we’re having fun.”
The video depicts the Bills player signing autographs, posing for photographs, and playing catch with the kids.
Hamlin has developed a clothing line with the same name as his organization, which stands for “Chasing Millions.”
The brand’s slogan is “for those with a desire who pursue it… According to Hamlin’s Bills bio, “it is for individuals who seek more and will not settle for being mediocre.”
The safety has given clothing from the business Sto-Rox to his Pittsburgh high school.
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