An ACTON Story | Page 3

PLACE NO LIMITS ON ME THANKS! STORY BOOK No 2. Earlier this year ACTON Rockingham and the ACTON Group sponsored Port Kennedy teenager Sam Kimberley so he could attend the World Dwarf Games. This is his story. Sam Kimberley was born with the bone disorder achondroplasia, commonly known as dwarfism. It is a genetic disorder that results in shorter arms and legs. About one in every 20,000 births in Australia is affected. As is often the case in these situations, his parents Rob and Ursula were given a range of information about the condition and an initial impression of doom and gloom. "We did our research and heard things like Sam's development would be behind other children, for example he wouldn't walk until he was three. It was a bit daunting at first, but our doctor said 'he's the youngest of six, he'll be fine.' and he was right. Our other kids involved him in everything. He walked at one and just hasn't looked back. "When Sam was very young we were involved with the Short Statured People of Australia organisation in Western Australia. It was interesting meeting other children and parents who were facing similar challenges. They marve