BERLIN — This week Mayor Gee Williams presented what he called a “bitter-sweet” proclamation to Patty Falck declaring March Multiple System Atrophy Awareness Month. The proclamation was in honer of Falck’s husband Stephen who suffered from the degenerative disease.

“He’s just an outstanding citizen and person,” Williams said of Stephen. “We are hoping that as a community…his challenge helps us to have greater aware of this disease.”

Falck told the assembled MSA is a rare condition that causes symptoms similar to Parkinson’s Disease. It tends to strike men between 50-60 years old.

“There is no cure and no treatment,” she said. “Many people who suffer from Parkinson’s have MSA.”

Falck said that Stephen was active throughout his life surfing and coaching girls lacrosse until the disease made those endeavors impossible.

Recently a fundraiser was held in Stephen’s name and the promotion around the fundraiser helped to raise awareness about the disease and even helped another person in town who is suffering from it come to grips with the illness.

In the wake of all the publicity, Falck said, this person, who thought they were suffering from Parkinson’s Disease was actually an MDA victim.

For more information about MSA or to support the Stephen Falck Foundation visit: http://stephenfalckfoundation.com.