CNN
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A web-based toy drive fundraiser began by Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin topped $3 million in donations within the hours after the NFL star collapsed on the field throughout a recreation Monday night time.
The 24-year-old is in essential situation after struggling a cardiac arrest following a deal with throughout the first quarter of a recreation in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals. CPR was administered on the sphere earlier than he was pushed out of the stadium in an ambulance to a Cincinnati hospital.
As followers awaited information on Hamlin’s situation, donations poured in to a GoFundMe fundraiser he began in 2020 to lift cash to buy toys for youngsters, writing on the time, “As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I’ll always remember the place I come from and I’m dedicated to utilizing my platform to positively impression the group that raised me. I created The Chasing M’s Basis as a automobile that may permit me to ship that impression.”
The fundraiser topped $74,000 only one hour after Hamlin’s collapse and rapidly grew to $2,033,270 simply earlier than 1 a.m. ET Tuesday, then soared to greater than $3 million simply an hour and twenty minutes later with greater than 119,000 donations.
“Following his harm on the sphere tonight, followers throughout the nation are exhibiting their help for him and his household by donating to his fundraiser,” GoFundMe tweeted Monday night time.
Payments followers – nicknamed the Payments Mafia – are recognized for having a charitable coronary heart. In 2021, they celebrated their victory over the Baltimore Ravens by donating money to the favourite charity of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who the crew misplaced within the third quarter because of concussion protocol.
And within the 2020 season, Payments followers donated greater than 1,000,000 {dollars} to a youngsters’s hospital after Payments quarterback Josh Allen’s grandmother died, the team said.
Payments followers charitable spirit appears to reflect Hamlin’s. CNN affiliate WKBW caught up with the NFL participant simply final month at his toy drive occasion in Buffalo, the place he signed autographs for youngsters.
“One thing I’ve at all times been into simply giving again, one thing I’ve been doing again dwelling in Pittsburgh for 3 years, I’ve been doing the toy drive, so simply with the ability to lengthen it to Buffalo now could be simply one thing I really like doing,” Hamlin instructed the station on the December 19 occasion.
Help for Hamlin flooded in Monday night time from followers and gamers throughout the sports activities group. The NFL Gamers Affiliation tweeted that the group and “everybody in our group is praying for Damar Hamlin.”
In an in a single day replace, the Payments stated Hamlin’s “heartbeat was restored on the sphere and he was transferred to the UC Medical Middle for additional testing and remedy. He’s presently sedated and listed in essential situation.”
The NFL and the NFL Gamers Affiliation agreed to postpone the sport, an announcement from NFL stated.
Former NFL participant reacts to Damar Hamlin collapsing
