Everyone has a story.  Some less visible than others.

North Vancouver’s Alex MacInnis is set to run the grueling Squamish Ultramarathon this weekend (August 16 & 17) with an ostomy to raise awareness and inspire others.

After losing his large intestine to Crohn’s disease, Alex MacInnis is running the Squamish 50/50 with a powerful mission: to prove life doesn’t end after ostomy surgery.

For North Vancouver resident Alex MacInnis, the mountains have always been a place of refuge. From the trails of Lynn Valley to the alpine ridgelines stretching toward Whistler, the Sea to Sky corridor has been his playground, his gym—and, more recently, his path to healing.

Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at just 12 years old, Alex spent much of his youth navigating hospital visits and flare-ups. After college, he was briefly able to reclaim his health, thanks to new medications and time spent recovering back home with family. But in his early 30s, the disease returned with force. Years of hospital stays and deteriorating health led to major surgery in 2018, when doctors removed his entire large intestine. Today, he lives with a permanent ileostomy.

Alex was featured on the Global Morning News in Vancouver on August 10!

Beginning this Saturday, he’s taking on one of Canada’s most demanding trail races—the Squamish 50/50, a back-to-back ultramarathon challenge spanning more than 130 kilometres over two days—with an ostomy bag strapped to his body.  (Follow Alex Live this Saturday beginning at 5:30 a.m. PST – Home – Squamish 50) “People think an ostomy ends your life. But I want to show that it doesn’t,” says Alex. “You can still climb mountains—literally and figuratively.”  He’s calling his campaign Ultra’s for Ostomies, and he’s raising funds for Ostomy Canada Society, a national organization that provides support, education, and advocacy for people living with ostomies.  “Ostomy Canada was a huge part of my recovery—not just physically, but emotionally. They help people see that their life isn’t over after surgery. That they’re not alone.”

This isn’t Alex’s first attempt. In 2024, he came just three kilometres short of completing Day One of the 50/50—a result that meant he couldn’t start Day Two. “That was heartbreaking,” he admits. “But it fueled me. I’ve spent the past year training hard, right here in the North Shore mountains, and I’m ready.”

Donations raised through Ultra’s for Ostomies go directly to Ostomy Canada’s programs—helping others who face life after major surgery connect to resources, support groups, and a sense of community.  “I want to inspire anyone with an ostomy to believe in themselves again. To feel proud of their body and everything it’s survived. And I want people to know there’s a strong community out there backing them.”

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