Bills Safety Damar Hamlin Attends Super Bowl Event in Arizona to Receive NFLPA's Highest Award
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin briefly attended an NFL Super Bowl event in Arizona to receive the NFLPA's Alan Page Community Award.
With his parents on stage with him at the Phoenix Convention Center, Hamlin said in a brief statement Wednesday that he intends never to "take this position for granted and always have an urgent approach to making a difference in the community" where he comes from and "also communities across the world."
According to the Associated Press, Hamlin received the award a little over a month following his cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati. In 2018, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) established the Alan Page Community Award as its highest honor.
The award is given every year to a player who goes beyond to perform community service in his hometown and team city. There were five finalists for this year's NFLPA's Alan Page Community Award.
Hamlin said that giving back to his community has always been a part of his identity. The Buffalo Bills safety also thanked his father, "who's right here behind me."
"I'm thankful for my father... Growing up watching him doing community days in our community. I always was waiting on my time when it came," he noted.
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Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin Receives NFLPA Award in Arizona
According to Buffalo Bills, Damar Hamlin received the NFLPA's Alan Page Community Award, with a $100,000 donation that will be awarded to his foundation or a charity of his choice.
Hamlin traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, to receive the award with his parents. The Buffalo Bills safety has reportedly inspired people all over the world through his miraculous recovery from a cardiac arrest during a January 2 game.
In December, Hamlin hosted his third annual Community Toy Drive, distributing gifts to hundreds of children in need in his hometown of Pittsburgh through his Chasing M's Foundation.
The foundation is a non-profit that started in 2020 as a GoFundMe page created by Hamlin, who sought $2,500 in support of his efforts to create meaningful events in Pittsburgh, such as a toy drive, kids camp, and a back-to-school event.
Other players nominated for this year's Alan Page Community Award were Jonathan Jones, Charles Leno Jr., Darren Waller, and Devin White.
Damar Hamlin Is Playing Again
NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer assured that Damar Hamlin will be able to play on an NFL field again. During an appearance on SiriusXM's Doctor Radio Wednesday, Mayer was asked by a caller if Hamlin could still play on an NFL field.
The medical director said he does not want to get into HIPAA issues but that he guarantees that Hamlin "will play professional football again," Yahoo Sports reported. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins clashed with Hamlin during the January 2 game, leading to the Buffalo Bills safety collapse.
Higgins' shoulders made an impact against Hamlin's chest during the tackle. The Bills safety stood up after but fell to the ground again and remained motionless. Hamlin was given immediate CPR and defibrillation by on-site medical personnel, and his heartbeat was eventually restored.
The 24-year-old Bills player was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he remained unconscious and on a ventilator for two days. He left Cincinnati on January 9, or after spending nearly a week at the hospital.
READ MORE: Damar Hamlin Injury Update: Bills Star in Critical Condition, Cause of Collapse Revealed
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
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