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Long before Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during Monday night’s NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, he was behind a 2020 GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a holiday toy drive in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa. His goal? A modest $2,500.
But within hours of Hamlin’s being carried off the field in an ambulance Monday, the GoFundMe campaign suddenly took off again. As of Thursday morning, more than $7 million had been raised from 200,000 contributors. Individual donations have ranged from a few dollars up to $25,003 (the “3” referring to Hamlin’s uniform number).
In a tweet posted Monday evening, GoFundMe acknowledged the unusual situation, saying of Hamlin’s campaign: “Following his injury on the field tonight, fans across the country are showing their support for him and his family by donating to his fundraiser.”
Donors are posting messages of hope and saying they want to help Hamlin in any way they can.
“Prayers for Damar Hamlin from a Bills Fan from Switzerland. Get well soon, Damar!” wrote one. “The world is behind your recovery,” said another.
In his original statement on the GoFundMe page, Hamlin had explained why he was launching the campaign. “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,” he said at the time.
Jordon Rooney, a spokesperson for the Hamlin family, said on Twitter that those who want to support Hamlin can contribute to the toy-drive GoFundMe campaign, noting that the money raised will go to Hamlin’s foundation, which also funds other community efforts. Rooney advised people not to contribute to any other GoFundMe campaigns supposedly set up on Hamlin’s behalf.
Rooney later shared a message from the Hamlin family.
The Buffalo Bills team has a history of supporting charitable causes — and its die-hard fan base, dubbed the Bills Mafia, has generously contributed to those efforts. One noteworthy example: Fans kicked in $1.1 million for a pediatric recovery wing at a local hospital that was named in honor of Patricia Allen, the late grandmother of Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
On Wednesday, the Bills gave an update on Hamlin’s condition, saying on Twitter that he “remains in the ICU in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight. He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him.”
