Near-Death Experience Triggers Foundation’s Growth

A little over a week ago, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game following what looked like a routine play.

Injuries are nothing new for the NFL, but this was different.  Hamlin’s heart had stopped and he collapsed.

In addition to the packed stadium, a worldwide TV audience saw Bills trainer Denny Kellington rush to his aid, performing CPR on Hamlin in the middle of the field.  Kellington saved his life.

After a lengthy delay and the ambulance leaving the field for the hospital, the two head coaches met ay midfield and, knowing the feelings of their teams, sent their respective squads to the locker room.  Later, the league announced that the game would not be resumed that night and eventually not replayed at all.

During the following week as Hamlin’s health improved, teams from around the league announced they would be recognizing Hamlin in various ways, such as wearing uniform patches with his number 3, shirts showing their support for him and his recovery and in-stadium announcements, to name a few.  The media and social platforms were all over it – talking about the circumstances at length.

The public responded in a big way as well, contributing more than $8 million to Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation, which he started while he was in college and supports toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps and more.

Hamlin appears to be on his way to a healthy recovery.  It’s too bad it took him almost dying in such a high-profile moment for his foundation to gain the recognition it needed for a sustainable future