CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Charlotte man started the latest ALS challenge, and it's already gaining national attention by celebrities.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge soaked the nation a few years ago, raising more than $115 million dollars and helping scientists link a gene to the disease. The new dare is called the ALS Pepper Challenge.
It was started on Christmas Day last year by Tom Haberstroh. His mother, Patty, was diagnosed with amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis just a few months ago.
“I can't lift my toes. I might have a tendency to trip on my toes and fall, which is very common for ALS," Patty explained.
Tom, lives in Charlotte and had the idea for the pepper challenge to help out his mom and anyone suffering from this debilitating disease.
“It's in the same vein as the ice bucket challenge that I did in 2014 with my in laws,” Tom said. “I wasn’t thinking then that this would ever hit me this way.”
The ALS Pepper Challenge has celebs taking on the heat. Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Jennifer Garner are just a few that have accepted the dare.
The goal is to raise $1 million for ALS research. Here's how the challenge works: Grab a hot pepper, eat it, nominate the next person and donate. You may also want to drink some milk.
"I will eat 7,000 Habanero peppers if it means my mom gets a cure!” Tom exclaimed.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, Charcot's disease, and motor neuron disease, attacks certain cells in the brain and spinal cord needed to keep muscles moving.