Frank Bruno's path is far from ordinary—it is extraordinary, just like the adventurer himself. A Cimalp ambassador since 2019, discover this man with a distinctive philosophy, featured in the documentary L'Iceberg. Immerse yourself in the story of adventurer Frank Bruno, an inspiring life lesson.
Naturally, Frank Bruno joined the Cimalp Family 4 years ago. “I was born in 1964, the same year as the French brand. Maybe it was meant to be,” he smiles. What sets him apart from other adventurers and explorers? His difference, which he regards as his strength. At 18, he lost a leg in Lebanon: “10 days in a coma, 2 cardiac arrests, and when I returned I spiralled into violence and my father kicked me out.” Hard blows among many others, but ones that forged the man he is today.
He now strives to share and inspire hope and energy. He challenges and provokes thought, but always with the purpose, conscious or unconscious, of pushing new limits. “We are all explorers of our own possibilities, immense and infinite.” Today, he shares his experience with others, as a:
- Founder of the charity Bout de vie, which supports amputees in adapting to and overcoming their difference by unlocking their life potential and exceeding their limits.
- Corporate speaker in France and Switzerland.
- Survival course organiser in Corsica, his native island
- Writer
Frank has distinguished himself on numerous occasions, earning several official honours:
- French National Defence Medal
- Lebanon Defence Medal with Vermeil Clasp
- Officer of the Monegasque National Associative Order
- Gold Medal of the French Sea Rescue
- Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour
- Member of the Society of French Explorers
Yet despite these accolades, Frank remains a grounded individual with a touch of madness.
Courage and loyalty
With a character all his own, Frank embodies the spirit of a free agent. In 2019, he forged a strong connection with the French brand Cimalp. "I've worked with other well-known outdoor brands, but interactions quickly became uninspired, even tense. At Cimalp, there is a true family atmosphere, and I'm thrilled to be part of it."
The Drôme-based mountain equipment company soon gave Frank Bruno one of his greatest adventures. "Right from the start of our collaboration, alongside one of Cimalp's key ambassadors, Fred Souchon, we hiked to the summit of the Mont White massif. He is a rescuer in the Chamonix High Mountain Gendarmerie Platoon (PGHM), so I was in good hands." An alpine ascent that will stay with him forever.
An inspiring adventurer
Frank Bruno leaves no one indifferent, inspiring multiple documentaries and press articles about his journey and causes. Recently, a documentary directed by David Tiago Ribeiro (from the documentary series Frères de Sport) and his company Little Darwin Films was filmed with him in Greenland, a territory for which the adventurer has developed a deep affection.
This film entitled L'Iceberg explores the inner journey of Frank, a leg amputee who found a "rebirth in the Far North". Today, he regularly supports other amputees in overcoming their trauma through an initiatory fleece expedition.
Ahead of its broadcast on Ushuaïa TV scheduled for the holidays, L'Iceberg will preview at various mountain film festivals, including:
- The XPlore Alpes Festival in Tarentaise - Friday 20/10 at 8:30 pm in Aime la Plagne
- Le Grand Bivvy in Albertville - Saturday 21/10 at 9:30 am and 4:00 pm & Sunday 22/10 at 10:15 am
Having become an explorer, adventurer, and writer, Frank fell in love with Greenland during a solo kayak expedition, as well as with the Kalaallit people, who paid no heed to his disability. It was alongside them, in a tiny blue house, that he chose to settle each summer to welcome others "bruised by life" like him—young men and women who have lost a leg or their freedom—aiming to prove that life, however harsh, remains a miracle. L’ICEBERG is a tribute to rare, intense encounters with the living world in its wildest and most extraordinary form.
A powerful life lesson.
Discover Frank Bruno through this documentary, via his profile and an interview with Frank by Laure Filippi.
©Letizia Nicolini | Little Darwin Film | Frank Bruno
