Chilli ME Challenge

The Chilli ME Challenge was an innovative project for ME/CFS awareness and biomedical research funding started by four young women with ME/CFS who call themselves, the 4 Chillis in a Pod Girls. The are Nicola Lavin, living in The Republic of Ireland, Catherine Schofield living in England, Lindsey Michelle and Brenda Hankins, both living in the United States.

According to Nicola, they started the project because they "wanted to use social media for positive use and try to emulate the success of last years ice bucket challenge for ALS. We decided to heat things up so to speak and because Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers has ME (we thought this might help with celebrities endorsing it, it hasn’t ME isn’t a sexy or cool illness to have)...we came up with the Chilli ME Challenge where healthy participants take a bite of a hot chilli to show support for those suffering with ME. They film their funny reaction upload it nominate five others and donate."

Fundraising
For the UK division, donations went to Invest in ME for biomedical research.

For the US division, donations went to The Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, especially for the work being done for Mady Hornig, MD.

Sampling of videos by ME doctors/researchers/advocates

 * Llewellyn King, reporter, Patient advocate,
 * Ian Lipkin and Mady Hornig, Researchers,
 * Lucinda Bateman, Physician,
 * Leonard Jason and his research team at DePaul University,
 * John Darvell, BBC Radio Presenter,
 * Full-time caregiver on behalf of his partner,
 * Brody on behalf of his mom,
 * Hot Sauced Guys,
 * Research Staff at Center for Infection and Immunity, Columbia University Mailman school of Public Health,
 * Jen Brea,
 * Mike Harley of Mike's EU Marathons,
 * Family of Karen Denmark
 * Gusto, ME Patient & Vlogger

Online presence

 * YouTube channel with Chilli ME Challenge videos
 * Dinner certificate winning video made by DatChallengeGuy
 * Twitter
 * Facebook