CHARACTER COUNTS

Support flows in for Bills center Eric Wood’s cause after his retirement

Jan 29, 2018, 1:26 PM | Updated: 1:28 pm

Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood is kissed by daughter Grace following a press conference announcing ...

Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood is kissed by daughter Grace following a press conference announcing he has been diagnosed with a career ending neck injury, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

(AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood abruptly announced his retirement following the 2017 season after a physical revealed a serious neck injury.

His career may be over, but the impact Wood has in the Buffalo community saw a drastic uptick following the news of his career-ending medical issue.

A fundraising campaign for the Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation has raised more than $35,000 since Friday. The donations will go toward supporting chronically ill children and their families at John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital.

The goal is to raise $70,000.

“Eric Wood is a leader in the Buffalo community and a source of strength and hope for the kids and families at Oishei Children’s Hospital,” Allegra C. Jaros, the president of Oishei Children’s Hospital, told BuffaloNews.com. “He is a generous and compassionate individual whose support for Oishei Children’s Hospital through the Eric Wood Fund supports the complex needs of our chronically-ill children and their families.

Wood has been a fixture in the Buffalo community through his Eric Wood Fund. In December, he took 50 children suffering from significant illnesses to dinner and then on a shopping spree at Walmart.

Twice in his career, Wood has been nominated by the Bills for the annual Walter Payton Man of the Year honor.

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Support flows in for Bills center Eric Wood’s cause after his retirement