‘More than football’: Fans flood NFL’s star charity as $4.5m quickly raised

As injured NFL star Damar Hamlin fights for his life in a Cincinnati hospital, fans are rallying around his charity in support.

Damar Hamlin's charity has been inundated with donations since his horror collapse.

As injured NFL star Damar Hamlin fights for his life in a Cincinnati hospital after one of the most shocking collapses seen on a football field, fans are rallying around his charity in support.

Hamlin’s ‘Community Toy Drive’, which was started by his The Chasing M’s charity in December 2020 after he was drafted to the Buffalo Bills from Pittsburgh, had hoped to raise $2500 to help buy toys for children hit hard by the Covid pandemic.

In the hours after his devastating collapse at Paycor Stadium in the opening quarter of his side’s blockbuster clash with the Cincinnati Bengals, donations for Hamlin’s charity have quickly surpassed A$4.5 million.

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“So many of these donations are coming all over,” ESPN’s Scott van Pelt said.

“That Buffalo community is legendary when it comes to supporting people.

“This is what they do, they rally to support and they are rallying to support Damar Hamlin.”

Pull through Young King!! 🙏🏾💪🏾 https://t.co/jiARydSddO

— Mark Ingram II (@markingramII) January 3, 2023

Distressed Buffalo Bills teammates react to Damar Hamlin’s collapse. Picture: Kirk Irwin

The charity received more than 50,000 donations in a matter of minutes, pushing the total past $2m.

NFL fans across the nation have united in support of Hamlin, who remains in a critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Already fans from both the Bills and Bengals are united outside the hospital as they await news of Hamlin’s condition.

Many travelled directly from the now postponed clash between the two Super Bowl contenders.

ESPN’s Coley Harvey said even Hamlin’s teammates are trying to get access to the star safety, given the shocking scenes they witnessed that left “many in tears” on the sidelines.

“So many people around the NFL, around this team are desperate to know anything about Damar Hamlin’s status,” he said.

Fans gather for a vigil at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for football player Damar Hamlin. Picture: Dylan Buell

This is the man you’re praying for tonight.

Continued prayers going up for Damar Hamlin. pic.twitter.com/02PXNa0PIn

— Michael Schlact (@michael_schlact) January 3, 2023

Bills Mafia is with you, @HamlinIsland. ❤️💙

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023

Please pray for our brother.

— Josh Allen (@JoshAllenQB) January 3, 2023

❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/yTZzQs0QAp

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023

Harvey said Hamlin’s star teammate Stefon Diggs even had to plead his case to hospital security in a bid to gain access to the medical center.

“(He said) this is my teammate, I have to be here for my teammate. This is so frustrating now. We just want to know what the news is on our guy,” Harvey explained.

“The cop just basically let him go at that point.

“This is more than football – it’s about humanity.”

Hamlin’s marketing rep Jordon Rooney provided an update via Twitter, stating: “His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests.”

Hamlin had taken a hard hit during a Tee Higgins tackle, stood up and then collapsed to the turf in devastating scenes.

The crowd for Damar Hamlin is growing outside Cincinnati’s main hospital. Bills and Bengals fans stand shoulder to shoulder hoping for his recovery. @Enquirerpic.twitter.com/mSXFo82och

— Cameron Knight (@ckpj99) January 3, 2023

Just stood with Tee Higgins’ mom who is now walking out with Tee who has his arm wrapped around her. Tee was the one who collided with Damar Hamlin before he collapsed pic.twitter.com/C1kzWI2hp5

— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) January 3, 2023

He received medical attention for over 30 minutes, with ESPN reporting that he had received CPR.

It’s not just the NFL and their fans that are uniting around Hamlin.

NBA superstar Donovan Mitchell even stopped his own press conference, after dropping a 71-point game, to send his prayers to Hamlin and his family.

“I want to say, prayers up for the Bills safety. I heard about it, I didn’t see it … we are praying for him, all of us in the locker room,” he said.

“We want to wish the best and pray everything goes well.”

Originally published as ‘More than football’: Fans flood NFL’s star charity as $4.5m quickly raised