Damar Hamlin wanted to raise $2500 for Christmas toys. Fans donated $7 million after his cardiac arrest

After Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suddenly collapsed on the field on Monday night while playing against Cincinnati Bengals, fans donated millions to a campaign that was to give children from Hamlin’s hometown toys for Christmas. The GoFundMe page was started by Damar Hamlin and his team on December 14. It read, to "positively impact children who have been hardest hit by the pandemic." The donations were for a campaign to purchase toys for those children and to be distributed on December 22 to a daycare center. The goal was to reach $2500. It has now raised more than $7.7 million.

However, now the fundraiser has an update and it reads, “If you would like to show your support and contribute to Damar’s community initiatives and his current fight, this is the place to do so. This is the only current fund that is being used by the Hamlin Family.” The page has raised more than $5,880,000. Many people made donations between $1000 and $5500.

Moreover, they thanked people for their support. “It has received renewed support in light of Damar’s current battle and we can’t thank all of you enough. Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us.” GoFundme had verified the fundraiser and said, “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.”

The donations started to come in after Hamlin collapsed during the Monday night game. In the first quarter of the game, Hamlin tackled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. After he got up and walked a few steps he collapsed onto the field. The medical professionals checked him for 10 minutes and then put him into an ambulance. The game was soon postponed, as reported by CBS News.

The Buffalo Bills posted a statement on Twitter that Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest. It said, “His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”

Hamlin’s family said that he had to be resuscitated twice after suffering cardiac arrest. “His heart had went out so they had to resuscitate him twice. They resuscitated him on the field before they brought him to the hospital and then they resuscitated him a second time when they got him to the hospital,” Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn, as reported by Independent.

Hamlin had started The Chasing M’s Foundation to bring an impact to his community. The foundation supports toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps, and more, according to the GoFundMe page. Hamlin had earlier written, “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. I created The Chasing M's Foundation as a vehicle that will allow me to deliver that impact, and the first program is the 2020 Community Toy Drive. “

He added, “Thank you so much for supporting me on and off the field. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with you to help make the holiday season a little brighter for the kids in our community.”

Damar Hamlin's doctors confirmed that his condition has vastly improved and added that he is 'beginning to awaken.' Hamlin's doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center said there has been "substantial improvement in his condition over the past 24 hours," reported Yahoo News. His "neurological condition and function is intact" and he's "beginning to awaken." He's opened his eyes, said the doctors.