Together,
we can change the story
Combat MSA is our flagship fundraising movement, powered by the Ezard Foundation. Founded by renowned chef, Teage Ezard after his own diagnosis, it exists with a single purpose: to spark awareness, fuel life‑changing research, and stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone living with MSA in Australia.
Join us. Be part of the breakthrough
A LEGACY OF HOPE: COMBAT MSA RECEIVES THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE’S FOOD FOR GOOD AWARD
“A big thinker with bright ideas and innovative practices
that better the community.”
For decades, the Good Food Guide recognised Teage Ezard as one of Victoria’s finest chefs, first at Guernica, then at his three-hatter Ezard, then at laneway restaurant Gingerboy and the Yarra Valley’s grand Levantine Hill.
Now, we also honour Teage Ezard for his legacy as founder of Combat MSA, a movement seeking to support those suffering from Multiple System Atrophy, the disease that ended Teage’s life in March 2026 when he was just 59 years of age.
“My body was speaking long before anyone knew how to listen,” he said. “REM sleep issues. Autonomic symptoms. Movement changes. The signs were there. The system just wasn’t built to see them.”
The charity is now led by Teage’s widow Tina Ezard. A tireless worker behind the scenes in the family’s restaurants, she’s now putting her skills, energy and creativity to work in a charity that creates awareness, drives advocacy, funds research and offers dignity to those diagnosed with MSA in Australia.
The Ezards’ journey was lonely, frightening and rapid. Thanks to the work of Combat MSA, those who face the disease today are met with hope, strategy and community.
~ The Age: Good Food, 12 October 2026
📸 Peter Tarasuik
WHAT'S MULTIPLE SYSTEM ATROPHY (MSA)?
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) is a rare and fast‑progressing neurological disease that affects movement and vital body functions.
It’s little‑known, often misunderstood, and urgently needs more attention and research. There’s no cure. Treatments are limited, diagnoses are often delayed, and people living with MSA face increasing challenges in daily life - from walking and speaking, to simply breathing.
At Combat MSA, we’re determined to change that. By raising awareness, funding research and building a stronger community around those affected, we believe together we can change the story.
Teage's Story
Teage spent a lifetime creating, inspiring and bringing people together. In March 2026, just 2 years after being diagnosed, we lost him, but not before he turned that same unstoppable drive toward a disease most had never heard of, and toward changing the experience for everyone who would face it after him.
His courage and determination remain at the heart of Combat MSA, a reminder that while one diagnosis can change a life, a united community can change the future. Teage's legacy lives on in every person we reach, every barrier we break, and every step we take toward a world where MSA is no longer a disease most have never heard of.
"If I can help make someone else's path through this just a little less confusing, a little less frightening, then that's something I can live with"
- Teage Ezard — chef, creator, advocate. 1966–2026.
Symptoms
One of the most striking early signs of MSA is REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder (RBD), where the body doesn’t switch off muscle activity during dreams. People may shout, punch, or kick in their sleep. This can appear years before other symptoms, making it one of the strongest early red flags.
Diagnosis
No single test confirms MSA. It’s the pattern across systems, across time that begins to tell the story. Sometimes the diagnosis is described as “probable MSA” or “possible MSA,” with certainty only increasing as the condition progresses.
Progression
MSA is a progressive condition, which means symptoms build up and change over time. At first, the illness may look like something more familiar - such as Parkinson’s disease or a balance disorder - but as the years go on, the differences become clearer.
Get Involved
Donate
Your gift fuels our mission from day one, helping us fund early research, amplify awareness, and stand with families facing MSA in Australia. Every dollar makes a difference.
Share
You can spark change just by spreading the word. Follow us on socials, share posts, or tell someone about Combat MSA Australia. Awareness builds hope.
Fundraise
Turn your passion into impact. From marathons to bake sales or your own idea, every dollar you raise fuels research, awareness and support for people living with MSA in Australia.
Volunteer
From helping at events to offering professional skills behind the scenes, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can grow this movement faster and stronger.
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