It’s the #ALSPepperChallenge, started by NBA writer Tom Haberstroh, who found out his mother was diagnosed with ALS late last year. The concept – similar to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that caught on in 2014 – is simple: Eat a hot pepper on camera, donate to finding a cure and nominate others to join in.
Introducing the #ALSPepperChallenge
Because my mom just got diagnosed with ALS and we want to find a cure. So we ate habaneros/jalapeños to start a movement. This is the video…
I’m nominating @LeBatardShow @Jade_TBF and @m_cook17 to join the fight … https://t.co/UVpZqXR3vi pic.twitter.com/8yHsuT9Six
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) December 25, 2017
Since Christmas, the challenge has spread and has now gotten all the way to Inside the NBA, where Shaquille O’Neal ( who struggled at the uber-spicy One Chip Challenge) and Charles Barkley gave it a shot with some jalapenos.
Challenge accepted!@paulpierce34, Jackie MacMullan & @Rachel__Nichols 👀🔥 #ALSPepperChallenge pic.twitter.com/8p8jlyhDuv
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 19, 2018
Shaq struggled a bit, but Barkley had no trouble at all.
Here are some other big names who have joined in: