Alissia’ s Courage

Alissia Lowther was born 17th October 2014 in County Durham, where doctors diagnosed that the bones in her feet were all crossed and twisted, and her family were told to prepare themselves that she may never be able to walk properly, with the chances of her ever being able to run out of the question!

During her early years she was constantly in and out of hospital for various procedures and was required to wear special footwear and unable to wear the type of footwear other children of her age were wearing, this however did not deter Alissia and she kept amazing both her family and the medical profession with her determination to walk.

At approximately four and a half years old, Doctors decided that Alissia would require a procedure to break and reset the major bones in her feet, and her parents were told she would need several months rest and recouperation. Alissia obviously did not receive the memo, and even before her plaster casts were removed, she was walking and even starting to run around her home!

Shortly after Alissia’s fifth birthday and while the family were holidaying in the Lake District it was decided to try to walk the Catbells Fell, Alissia almost skipped up the fell and this started her love of fell walking, and since that memorable day, together with various members of her family Alissia has completed a number walks including Old Man of Coniston, Blencathra, Haystacks, Great Gable, Grisedale Pike and Pillar, Skiddaw, Helvellyn, Scafell Pike and others too numerous to mention. Last year all of these were surpassed by climbing both Mount Snowdon and Ben Nevis. During these walks and climbs Alissia has worn out more than five pairs of walking boots and several sets of waterproof clothing.

However the one thing that has been constant throughout was Alissia’s decision to collect and save money from family and friends at each walk and climb. At the beginning of 2023 she said to her grandfather (Colin Lowther) that she understood that he could help her donate her money to more needy people through his Freemason lodge (Beacon Lodge), after consultation with the past masters it was decided to ask Alissia and her parents to join the brethren at the festive board where the money was presented to the Master, Peter Hornsby.  The donation was presented by Alissia at the regular lodge meeting in February where she also helped with the raffle draw and donation of prizes. When asked to comment on his granddaughter’s achievements Colin Lowther just said, “she makes all the walks easy for everyone as she is always a bundle of laughs and keeps everyone happy”.

The brethren of Beacon lodge decided that in honour of Alissia’s achievements they would match her donation and a cheque for four hundred and twenty pounds was presented to Masonic Benevolence in her name, a wonderful example of her courage with a never give up attitude.