Music, love and living ‘normally’: Chris Kemp’s life with MND

Behind a lime-green door, musicians Chris Kemp and Kendall Todd are choosing creativity, connection and purpose – even as motor neurone disease (MND) changes everything.

Chris Kemp (55) and Kendall Todd’s (38) lime-green front door feels like a Narnia-esque portal into a magical musicians’ haven. Inside, a Ramones’ vinyl-record creates a rock’n’roll kitchen rangehood. A retro microphone stands ready for an impromptu gig, guitars line the hallway vying for attention, and a plastic Elvis keeps watch among framed concert posters and shelves stacked with vinyl.

Music has shaped their lives. Chris is a drummer. Kendall is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. They’ve toured together, recorded albums, and shared stages. Chris played in the support band for the legendary Chris Isaak at the St James Theatre.

But their home also tells a quieter, harder story.

A drum kit that once sat proud in the lounge now sits idle, tucked away in the bedroom. Motor neurone disease has taken away Chris’ ability to hold his drumsticks. Still, Chris and Kendall focus on the ‘can do’ not the ‘can’t do’. They have big plans to write and record a third album together, using technology to recreate Chris’ drumming.

“That’s our key word – normal. Just carry on!” exclaims Chris. “I still make plans.”

On a mission to raise awareness

Chris is now on a mission to help raise awareness of the disease that he knew nothing about when he was diagnosed. “I want to raise awareness of MND and raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease NZ (MND NZ) to help others like me. I like to talk about it, because I want everyone to know what the hell’s going on. I feel like it’s the most horrible disease and I knew nothing about it.”

Chris and Kendall took part in the 2026 Round the Bays event, with Chris in his power chair and friends by their side, raising funds for MND NZ. They also recently opened their home and their hearts to generously share their story for an MND NZ video promoting the charity’s June 2026 Action Month to help raise awareness.

However, it hasn’t always been so easy to talk about MND, as Chris discovered when he broke the news to his adult children Bella (26) and Sam (22). “I’ll never forget telling them – everything just went silent. I was in a freeze frame, and everything outside was going really fast,” recalls Chris through his tears. “I felt empty. It was such a hard thing to do.” He didn’t tell his wider community about his MND until nearly a year later.  

Receiving the diagnosis – a tough chapter

In October 2023, Chris was abruptly ushered out of a neurologist’s office still reeling from the bombshell that he had an incurable, fatal disease with an average life expectancy of two to three years.

In the year leading up to that appointment, he had noticed small changes – holding his shaver differently, unexplained weakness. Kendall saw muscles twitching across his back and arms. Chris’ GP told him he didn’t know what these symptoms were but immediately sent him to the neurologist. Chris later discovered his GP’s dad had MND and he knew exactly what those symptoms pointed to.

After sharing the devastating diagnosis with Kendall that October day, he tried to go straight back to his ‘day job’ designing supermarkets for Foodstuffs North Island. “I thought, I'll just be normal and I'll go to work,” explains Chris from his power chair. He soon returned home to digest the news.

Support from MND NZ

Back home, Kendall started googling. She found the Motor Neurone Disease NZ (MND NZ) website and reached out.

“A few hours later we got a call from the local MND NZ Support Advisor Meg. That was the only support we had in the beginning. She came to visit us at home with resources and made sure that we had what we needed and got in touch with all the people we needed to be in contact with – that was awesome,” says Kendall.  

“We took a week off work together, brought the mattresses into the lounge, hunkered down and watched movies,” she reminisces. “Then we went and played music on tour!”

Challenges on tour

Two weeks after the diagnosis, the dynamic musical-duo and their band supported the American country cowpunk act Jenny Don’t and the Spurs on a New Zealand-wide tour. They also put them up at their house and hosted a gig in their lounge in suburban Thames.

On tour, Chris’ MND weighed heavily on the couple but was unknown to their friends and bandmates. They stopped their first performance early – Chris was struggling to grip his drumsticks. The couple had to tell their own bandmates what was going on, prompting tearful backstage hugs. “We just didn’t want to stop doing all the stuff that we had planned,” explains Kendall.

As Chris’ condition progressed, he was physically unable to continue drumming. His last live performance was with Kendall at Chrisfest in September 2024 – a bittersweet benefit concert for the couple organised by their musician mates.

The cost of MND and overwhelming support

Chris initially didn’t want to tell his friends and wider community about his diagnosis. And he certainly didn’t want to ask for help. But, he says, ‘MND is an expensive disease’. They needed a costly bathroom modification to accommodate a wheelchair – an unexpected $50,000 – and other mobility equipment like a mobility van and ongoing treatments to support some quality of life. The terminal diagnosis has also prompted bucket-list adventures with Bella and Sam.

The Chrisfest benefit concert and a Give-A-Little page created by a lifelong friend have helped them with these costs. They also received a grant from the MND NZ Support Fund for a new concrete path that gives Chris the freedom to leave home by himself in his power chair. Their gratitude for the support they have received is obvious, but Chris is frustrated by his life insurance company’s refusal to pay out.

“That would enable us to live our last years together,” he says referring to their reliance on Kendall working full-time from home while also caring for Chris. “They say he’s ‘not terminal enough’,” says Kendall.

Reflections for others facing MND

Reflecting on what they might say to others just coming to terms with a new diagnosis Chris’ first thought goes to Kendall. “How difficult it can be to be a carer and a partner.” Kendall gently brushes Chris’ words off with advice for others to be careful about how much negative information you consume, and when. “There’s a time and place,” she says.

“My advice to others diagnosed with MND is to remain as normal as possible,” says Chris. “Don't live to the diagnosis. Live to your life, as you always have. Just because you've been stamped with MND don't put the handbrake on.”