Heading out onto the ground at Etihad Stadium in front of a crowd of tens of thousands of footy fans is usually a daunting task, but not for Watersun ambassador Lyn Rowe who was invited to toss the coin for the Saints before their round 18 match.

There is no task too intimidating for the 52-year-old who was born without arms or legs in March 1962, a result of her mother being given morning sickness drugs that contained thalidomide.

“It’s amazing she got to experience something that she never has in her lifetime, it’s something really special,” Lyn’s mum Wendy gushed.

“When she was born I just envisaged that she wouldn’t be able to do anything in her life but she’s just amazing in the things she achieves.  She always telling me she’s going to find a way to do it.”

Doctors advised Wendy and her husband Ian that Lyn should be put into care, and that she was likely to die very soon. But they refused that advice and took their tiny baby home.

Wendy and Ian, who are nearing 80 years of age care for Lyn full time as she faces many difficulties with everyday life; eating, bathing, reading, getting into bed, getting dressed and generally getting around.

Watersun offered to design and build a fully customised home at no cost to the family, and The Lyn Rowe Project was born.  Watersun arranged for many of their key suppliers and tradespeople to assist with materials and labour. The Lyn Rowe Project was built in just 18 weeks, and the delighted family moved in in July 2102.

“It’s amazing because a brand new house that we desperately needed.  It only took 18 weeks to build this beautiful new house,” Wendy said.

“We had wonderful support for supplies.  It’s just an amazing house set up for Lynny.  It has lots of space and technology, lights that go on and off and things that go up and down and plenty of space for her to move around in.”

The worst medical disaster in history made Lyn Rowe one of the most profoundly disabled thalidomide survivors on the planet but has found ways to overcome her disability, and is now inspiring school students throughout Victoria with her message “Never give up, always have a go.”

Her positive attitude has helped show thousands of school children the person behind the disability, as part of the Scope Young Ambassadors program and in August 2011, she was awarded the Victorian Pride of Australia Courage medal.