Tia Bruno lent her face to catalog photos, posters and other material promoting Harley-Davidson’s new Pink Label collection of women’s apparel to inspire more women to become motorcycle riders like herself and to let those diagnosed with breast cancer know they’re never alone.

Now a special education teacher in California, the former Kenosha resident is a longtime Harley rider, breast cancer survivor and tireless activist out to raise awareness and advocate support for women before, during and after treatment for the disease.

“I consider myself a breast cancer ‘survivor/thriver.’ I thrive on life because of everything that went on,” Bruno told the Kenosha News in a telephone interview.

This isn’t the first time Bruno, 37, was picked to be a poster girl for breast cancer from among the millions of its victims. In 2007, her smiling face appeared prominently in materials promoting Avon’s annual Walk for Breast Cancer after event officials spotted her on camera at a previous walk.

Walks and rides

Bruno, whose parents Don and Rigmor Bruno live in Kenosha, has done the annual Avon walk in California, Colorado and Chicago and has been joined by her mother.

“I’ve made it my goal to do that until I’m a 50-year survivor, which means I’ll be 80 years old. I’m seven years cancer free so far, and still going,” said Bruno. She was diagnosed in May 2002 leading to a single mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery. She completed treatment in December 2002, excluding further reconstructive surgeries.

Active in fundraising and advocacy even before her diagnosis, she has taken part in numerous benefit rides on her own 1988 Sportster Hugger Custom as well as other Harleys supplied by the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker for national and international breast cancer campaigns. Her dream is to get a beefier Harley, a Dyna Low Rider.

Four months after finishing chemotherapy, she rode the Pony Express global relay ride.

“I was still bald when I did that one,” laughed Bruno, whose hair has grown back to full length, as evidenced in the Pink Label photos. “Yep, that’s all mine. I want women to know the hair comes back,” she said.

Unexpected call

In November, she got an unexpected phone call from a Harley representative.

“They said that they had noticed me in a ride we do every year called ‘Heels and Wheels. It’s all women and we do it every year to raise money for breast cancer. We’ve done it for five years now. I’ve always been the face to put it together,” Bruno said. “They (Harley-Davidson) asked if I would be interested as a rider and a breast cancer survivor in representing the Pink Label line. They flew me and a friend, Sarah Blum, to Texas. They wanted a friend who was with me through my breast cancer.”

She also was told a portion of the sales would go to YourShoes, the Breast Cancer Network of Strength 24/7 support center. Founded 30 years ago by two patients, the center connects callers to breast cancer survivors who have walked in their shoes.

“They’re all breast cancer survivors. So, they can relate because they’ve been through it,” Bruno said.

Knowing how much support from family and friends has benefited her, Bruno didn’t hesitate to sign on with Harley-Davidson to promote Pink Label and its connection with YourShoes.

“Whether catalog, on-line, store display, commercials, whatever, I agreed to do whatever they wanted. I was very proud to do it,” she said. “I want women to be proud to wear it and support breast cancer awareness and the organization the funding goes to.”

Added Bruno: “I hope for a lot of things. First of all, for breast cancer survivors, that I bring them hope that they can go on. Second, I hope I inspire all kinds of women to ride (motorcycles). We can ride, too. You don’t always have to be on the back.”