A fundraiser created by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has raised more than $4 million in donations less than a day after the NFL star suffered cardiac arrest during a game.
The 24-year-old athlete was injured on the field Monday night and while his heartbeat was restored, he remains sedated and in critical condition, according to a statement from the Bills. The game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals was suspended while prayers and support poured in online.
Fans also showed their support by donating millions of dollars to the Chasing M Foundation, Hamlin’s charity that he started in 2020 shortly before he was drafted to the NFL in 2021. Damar’s foundation supports toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps and more.
“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,” Hamlin wrote on the foundation’s GoFundMe page.
The Chasing M Foundation was running a campaign to purchase toys for children impacted by the pandemic in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, where Hamlin grew up.
A cached version of the GoFundMe page shows that prior to Monday night’s game, the foundation had raised a little over $2,900. At the time of this writing, donations have reached $4.86 million.