Jake Leonard 
Hours after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the NFL community has stepped up in a major way.
While Hamlin is in critical condition and the game remains suspended, a GoFundMe campaign for his charity The Chasing M’s Foundation started circulating across social media.
The campaign, an online toy drive fundraiser, was initially started by Hamlin in 2020 with an initial goal of $2,500. As of early Tuesday morning, that figure is at over $3.3 million.
“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,” GoFundMe tweeted Monday night.
Hamlin spent five years at Pittsburgh, appearing in 48 games for the Panthers. The second-team All-ACC performer in his senior year was drafted by the Bills in the 2021 NFL Draft. He played 14 games in his rookie season before becoming a starter this season due to losing Micah Hyde to a season-ending injury.
The fundraiser is for a community toy drive that gives back to the children of the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
As Hamlin continues the long path to recovery, the NFL community will continue to support this charity and bring joy to the Pittsburgh area during the 2023 holiday season.
