The NFL community was rocked by the on-field collapse of Bills safety Damar Hamlin during the first quarter of Buffalo’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Players and fans took to social media to share prayers, seek updates and unite in support of Hamlin’s charity.
Hamlin’s most recent Instagram post celebrated her third annual toy drive through her foundation, Chasing M’s.
The Pittsburgh native and former Pitt standout started the foundation shortly after the 2020 college football season ended and immediately launched his first toy drive, setting up a GoFundMe page for donations. That page remains active and donations poured in Monday after Hamlin’s collapse.
As of 1 a.m. ET Tuesday, the page had raised more than $2.4 million and had more than 96,000 individual donations. The exact figure for the money raised was not known before Monday, but it was believed to be in the thousands of dollars.
“As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and pledge to use my platform to positively impact the community that raised me,” Hamlin wrote on the GoFundMe page for the fundraiser initial of toys.
“I created The Chasing M’s Foundation as a vehicle to allow me to deliver that impact… Thank you so much for supporting me on and off the field. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with you to help make the season holiday season to be a little brighter for the children in our community.”
The vast majority of donations after Hamlin’s injury Monday night were small-dollar donations accompanied by messages from NFL fan bases across the country.
“Broncos Nation is praying for you Damar,” read one.
“Prayers coming from Packers Nation,” said another.
“Bengal fans are pulling for the Bills and their families tonight,” read a third.
Several other current and former NFL players took to Twitter to share prayers and support for Hamlin. Bengals and Bills fans also shared a candlelight vigil for Hamlin outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin remains hospitalized in critical condition, according to the NFL.
You can access the GoFundMe page for Hamlin’s charity here.
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