Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin remains on the road to recovery after his cardiac arrest on the field, but he’s already showing his gratitude for a world that rallied behind him following a horrific night.
In his first public address in the four weeks since his fatal meltdown on “Monday Night Football,” Hamlin emotionally thanked everyone who helped and supported him.
This group included Bills’ training and medical staff, doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Buffalo General Medical Center, his parents, younger brother, family and friends, Bills’ fanbase , the Bills organization, the city of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Bengals, the NFL community, the kids who sent him letters and gifts, and all the donors to his GoFundMe.
The video, posted on the Bills’ social media, is nearly six minutes long.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the love and support and everything that’s been happening to me,” Hamlin said. “What happened to me on ‘Monday Night Football’ I think is a direct example of God using me as a vehicle to share my passion and love straight from my heart with the whole world.”
Hamlin’s GoFundMe, set up two years ago to support a toy drive at his mother’s daycare, was inundated with donations from numerous NFL teams and bigger names in the aftermath of its collapse. The fundraiser, set up with an initial goal of $2,500, sits at more than $9 million on Saturday.
Near the end of the video, Hamlin indicated that he plans to use the money to help children all over the United States.
“It’s something that started long before I got to the NFL,” Hamlin said. “Something that started small just so I could affect my little community back home at McKees Rocks. I just wanted to be able to play my part and do my part in my community as I ventured out to pursue my dreams in the NFL.
“You took this and took it away. I’m so excited for the things I have planned for the future for these kids across the country now.”
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