Denise Miller is bringing Michigan’s first Run for Resilience Ostomy 5K to the Ann Arbor area, an event aimed at raising awareness of life with an ostomy and challenging the stigma surrounding the surgery.
Miller discussed the event and her own experience with Jamie Sherrod. The race will take place at Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter at 9am on Saturday 3 October 2026, coinciding with Ostomy Awareness Day.
The family-friendly event will include open and ostomate divisions, children’s fun runs, music, food and local vendors. Participants will be able to run, walk or roll, while proceeds will support the United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA).
Miller, from Chelsea, Michigan, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after experiencing severe pain while cycling with her husband in November 2022. During surgery the following month, doctors found that the cancer had grown around part of her large intestine, and she left hospital with a colostomy.
She has since returned to running, as well as hiking, cycling and surfing. Miller said her recovery had shown her that an ostomy did not have to prevent her from living an active life.
Her decision to organise the Michigan event followed a visit to a Run for Resilience gathering in Cleveland. She said seeing people openly taking part while living with ostomies gave her the confidence to help create a similar community closer to home.
“I was inspired to increase awareness of ostomies in Michigan,” Miller said in a personal account published by UOAA. She has also helped establish an ostomy support group in Ann Arbor, which now brings together about 20 people through in-person and virtual meetings.
UOAA estimates that between 725,000 and one million people in the United States live with an ostomy or continent diversion. The organisation says its Run for Resilience events are open not only to runners but also to people who want to walk, roll or support the ostomy community.
