ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — It's one thing to watch a Bills game in the stands, but it's a completely different thing to step foot onto the same turf as the players. On Tuesday, that feeling became reality for a few special football fans as Damar Hamlin held a behind-the-scenes tour of Highmark Stadium.
"This is my normal life," Hamlin said. "It creates another level of appreciation whenever you see first-timers get to enjoy it and see how much they value experiencing something I get to do each and every day.'
But it wasn't just any group of fans hanging with Hamlin at Highmark. The Bills Safety partnered with the Abbott HeartMates program to welcome people who also have struggled with heart issues.
The Abbott HeartMates Program was inspired by Hamlin's comeback from cardiac arrest and its overall goal is to support other individuals on their heart health journey. Throughout the year, the group will visit hospitals around the U.S. to recruit new HeartMates members, host virtual huddles with cardiovascular experts, and share content that’s exclusively available to their community.
The HeartMates participants from Tuesday's tour will also be treated to suite tickets to Sunday's game against the Titans where they'll be able to cheer on their fellow HeartMate, Hamlin.