With an average snowfall of 72 inches per year, Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, far surpasses the national average of 28 inches. A small town, it’s called home to a population of 61, including Special Olympics West Virginia athlete Brandon Wilt. Given its distance from bigger city lights, these West Virginians source their entertainment from Mother Nature herself. And when that comes in the form of snow, Brandon is at the ready, snowshoes tightly strapped. At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, he was relatively new to snowshoeing. Steadily picking up speed and gaining confidence in his footing, Brandon found the sport to be an escape from the isolation he felt during lockdown. The weight of his depression seemingly unbearable, he felt lighter with each step.
Now training to compete in the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025, he is focused on the terrain ahead, fueled by all he has overcome. Exactly ten years ago, Brandon was preparing for athletics competition in the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015, where he placed sixth in each of his events. In the stands, his stepmother, Angela, and his older brother, Cody, cheered him on, like they do every day.
“When I got involved in Brandon’s life, his mother had passed away two years before,” said Angela. “I knew his father from when we grew up, and his oldest son was helping his dad care for Brandon. At that time, Brandon’s disability was severe and profound. Basically, I got to know the boys and fell in love with them.”
Angela became Brandon’s stepmother, also stepping in as a local Special Olympics athletics and snowshoeing coach. Above all, she became his fiercest advocate, motivating him toward independence. He graduated from Preston High School in 2012 with a 3.7 grade-point average, fighting to graduate alongside his friends instead of being held back at the school district's request. When he started working, he learned an affinity for cooking, which he now practices in his job at Fox’s Pizza Den, located across the state border in Oakland, Maryland.
“I make pizzas, strombolis and wings,” shared Brandon, his favorite menu item being steak stromboli. “All my coworkers are happy with me.”
More than a student or employee, Brandon takes his role as Angela’s stepson to heart. In the spring of 2023, he lost his father. The shape of their family suddenly and vastly different, Brandon was there for Angela to lean on.
“I was not myself,” she said. “The roles reversed. Brandon made supper; Brandon took care of me.”
In the snow, the two found their balance. Snow, with its deep symbolism, marks a shift – a change that reshapes everything it touches. A landscape that was once clouded with grief now felt calm, renewed. And when they ventured out on snowshoes, the activity brought them even closer, providing a fresh start to build something new as a team.
Regardless of the season, they stay inventive with their training methods, working on sand or at the water's edge during warmer months. In colder weather, they make the most of nearby ski resorts, snowshoeing on more traditional trails. Day by day, Brandon prepares for his competition, with both his parents by his side in spirit.
“This was something that his dad always wanted Brandon to do,” said Angela. “So, we believe his mom and dad are making this happen.”
In the snowy regions of Northern Italy, Brandon will be reminded of home, the winters he’s weathered, but also of the opportunity that lies before him. His sights set on the World Winter Games, Brandon carries with him the strength of his past, the love of his family and the promise of a future shaped by resilience.