More good is coming from a near tragedy.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin captivated the nation after he collapsed from a cardiac arrest during a "Monday Night Football game in early January. The incident sparked an outpouring of prayers and support.
On Tuesday night, Hamlin posted a video on social media detailing his new partnership with the American Heart Association called “#3forHeart CPR Challenge.” Hamlin received CPR on the field which helped save his life.
The challenge -- which Hamlin hopes will involve LeBron James and newly retired Tom Brady -- is simple.
Step one is to learn CPR. Step two is to donate to the association for CPR education and training. The final step is to share the challenge and inspire others on social media.
“As you know, CPR saved my life earlier this year on the field,” Hamlin said in a video on social media, “and CPR could easily save your life.”
To help kick-start the challenge, Hamlin hopes to also involve former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Talk about star power.
Teaming up with @american_heart in a BIG way!
— (@HamlinIsland) February 1, 2023
The Damar Hamlin 3 for Heart challenge is live! 3 easy steps to save a life❤️ @tombrady, @michelleobama, and @kingjames you’ve all been challenged!
Throw them 's up! #3forHeart https://t.co/yn8l8mLT7E pic.twitter.com/FMEr8klEDr
We’ve seen other viral challenges spread across the Internet. Remember the ice bucket challenge to raise money for ALS research?
The “3forHeart” challenge deserves to spread. CPR can play a crucial role in saving lives. Minutes matter when someone suffers a cardiac event.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., killing nearly 700,000 people yearly, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CPR is one of the many efforts that can help lower that number.
The new challenge is another example of Hamlin and others using his situation to find good.
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