Fans donate to Damar Hamlin’s charity toy drive after Bills player’s collapse

An online toy drive fundraiser created by Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been flooded with donations after he collapsed during a game Monday night.

Hamlin, 24, suffered cardiac arrest during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals and was administered CPR on the field before being transported to hospital where he remains in critical condition, the Bills said in a statement early Tuesday.

In the wake of the incident, fans flocked to a GoFundMe Hamlin had set up in 2020 when he was entering the league.

The effort aims to raise money to buy toys for children impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and had an initial fundraising goal of $2,500.

That was eclipsed in the hours after Hamlin’s collapse and by 5 a.m. ET had passed $3 million with more than 123,000 donations.

Many fans included messages of support and wishes for Hamlin’s good health alongside their donations.

GoFundMe shared a link to the page and said that “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.”

Hamlin, a University of Pittsburgh alum, created the charitable foundation and toy drive as his college career was coming to an end in 2020.

“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 fund’s page at the time.

“This campaign gives you the opportunity to contribute to our first initiative and positively impact children who have been hardest hit by the pandemic,” he added.

Pitt’s football program changed its Twitter profile’s header late Monday night to a picture of Hamlin in his No. 3 Panthers jersey, and added: “Damar Hamlin is the best of us. We love you, 3. Praying for you.”

Cincinnati was leading 7-3 when Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, stood up and then fell over on his back.

In a game in which players do sometimes suffer serious injuries, the apparent gravity of the situation was called unprecedented on Monday’s broadcast.

The game was suspended with 5:58 minutes left in the first quarter. The NFL officially postponed the contest about an hour later, shortly after 10 p.m. ET.

Hamlin is a native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, which is near Pittsburgh, and he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

NFL players joined in rallying around Hamlin as emotional fans gathered outside the hospital with candles.

The Buffalo Bills tweeted “Bills Mafia is with you, @HamlinIsland,” referring to the player and a name for Bills fans. The Bengals were among the teams that responded with an emoji of hands in prayer. Bills quarterback Josh Allen wrote: “Please pray for our brother.”

Josh Cradduck, Phil Helsel and David K. Li contributed.