Donate and help make every day count for Chris and his family after his terminal MND diagnosis.
Waikato, Waikato District
In October 2023, Chris and his wife Kendall were living their dream in their first home. But their joy was shattered when Chris was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 2 - 3 years that will progressively rob him of his ability to move, speak, and breathe.
Chris is a man of action and inspiration and refuses to give up. Known for his adventures, contributions to the New Zealand music community, dedication to parkrunning, and being a devoted husband and father, Chris choses to face this diagnosis by raising awareness about MND and creating lasting memories with his family. Since his diagnosis he has been busy approaching sponsors and planning fundraising opportunities for the Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand charity.
MND is a costly disease. Chris will soon need mobility aids, home modifications, and ongoing treatments to maintain his quality of life. He and Kendall have already exhausted their savings and both will eventually have to stop working, but he dreams of taking his wife and children on one final trip to America.
Your support can make this dream possible. By donating, you can help Chris create precious memories, access necessary treatments, and maintain his dignity. If MND takes him early, your contributions will support his family and further the work of MND NZ.
Chris is determined to beat the odds and live longer than expected. With your help, he can fight this battle with hope and strength.
Please, donate today.
I have known Chris my entire life, growing up together in Glenn Innes and Mt. Wellington with our fathers working together on the NZ Railway and our families being the best of friends.
He is a brother.
Supplements and treatments / therapy; home modifications, mobility vehicles, equipment and aids; making memories with his wife and children.
Some Happenings from The Last Few Months 17 January 2025
In the past few months we have been getting back to nature and doing as much hiking and walking as we can!
It started with Kendall, our friend Deb and I doing an overnight hike climbing Mount Pirongia! You will see some of the incredible scenery in the linked video. A mountain we have wanted to climb for many years.
Then at the start of this month, we walked the Rakiura Track on Stewart Island, one of the New Zealand Great Walks! We got to share it with our dear friends Wendy and Martin. It was a challenging and rewarding 3 days walking, and included a stay in a haunted hotel in Bluff!
When we got back, I celebrated attending my 100th parkrun. A goal that has been 12 years in the making! I have also made progress with setting up our very own parkrun here in Thames - and was featured in the local newspaper.
All of these bucket list activities have been made possible with your support.
Having so many things to do and look forward to makes a hard situation a little bit more bearable!
Thank you so much to you all, and I hope the new year sees you feeling loved and supported.
Thank you Aunty E and Uncle R 💜 Hope we get to catch up soon!! Love you heaps xxx From Chris, Kendall, Bella and Sam xx
Thank you so much for your generous donation Steve. Happy New Year! From Chris, Kendall, Bella and Sam x
Thank you so much for your generosity Roger. It is so appreciated! With love from Chris, Kendall, Bella and Sam x
Thank you Amy and Nick! It was such a joy to celebrate your wedding with you. See you again soon xx Chris, Kendall, Bella and Sam xx
This is so wonderful. Thank you so much all for your generosity and coming together to fundraise for us. From the bottom of our hearts. Much love, Chris, Kendall, Bella and Sam xx
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