When Ana Franco steps up to the start line of the 2026 Chicago Marathon, she’ll carry more than the weight of the 26.2 miles ahead. She’ll carry the memory of someone who should still be here, and the hope that, one day, fewer families will have to say goodbye too soon.
This will be Ana’s first marathon. A Chicago native and student at Wake Forest, she set out to challenge herself in a new way after stepping away from collegiate athletics. But what began as a personal goal quickly became something far more meaningful when she chose to run with Team Lynn Sage.
Because for Ana, this race is personal. She is running in memory of Sophia Ahmad Jones—a devoted mother and close family friend, and a beloved member of the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation Board. Sophia was her best friend Rania’s mom, but over time, their families became one. They shared holidays, traveled together, and supported each other through life’s everyday moments.
During COVID-19, that bond only deepened. In a time of uncertainty, their families found comfort in one another, turning isolation into connection and friendship into something that felt like home. Sophia was a part of it all. And when she passed away from breast cancer during Ana and Raina’s senior year of high school, the loss left a space that can never truly be filled.
Now, Ana is running to honor her. She’s running alongside her dad and brothers, making race day a shared act of remembrance and love. She’s running for Rania, for their families, and for the future they wish Sophia could still be part of. “I wanted to run for something bigger than myself—something that connects back to Sophia, Rania, and our families.”
That sense of purpose is what carries her through early mornings, long training runs, and the commitment to fundraising. Every mile is a reminder of why she started and who she’s running for.
But Ana’s story doesn’t end at the finish line. It connects to something larger—something made possible by a community of supporters who believe in changing the future of breast cancer. Because every step she takes, and every dollar raised, fuels the work happening at Lynn Sage: groundbreaking research, bold ideas, and the next generation of breast cancer physicians who are working toward better patient care—and ultimately, a cure.
It’s this progress that turns grief into momentum.
It’s what helps transform loss into hope.
And it’s what brings us closer to a future where more women have more tomorrows.
Behind every breakthrough is a story like Ana’s. Behind every research advancement is a community that made it possible.
Ana may be running her first marathon, but she’s already part of something much bigger than a race. A tribute. A legacy. A step forward in the fight against breast cancer, so that more mothers, more friends, and more loved ones are still here for the moments that matter most.