Why Simran Takes Steps for the IBD Community

Simran Vaswani expected her first Take Steps experience to be quiet and serious. Instead, she found music, energy, and a sea of bright green T-shirts worn by people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For the first time since her diagnosis six months earlier, she felt part of something bigger.

Two years later, Simran is 18 and the 2026 Orange County Pediatric Honored Hero. She’s become an advocate for the IBD community, supporting other young people facing similar challenges.

Why Take Steps matters

Each year, Take Steps events across the country raise millions of dollars to support the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s mission. The Foundation’s signature fundraising event brings together more than 22,000 people affected by IBD, with 60 walks raising over $10 million in 2025.

For Simran, the impact goes beyond fundraising. Take Steps is also about showing others they are not alone. As the 2026 Orange County Pediatric Honored Hero, Simran addressed the Take Steps crowd and cut the ribbon that began the walk.

“Take Steps is one of the few places where I feel completely understood, and I want others to share that feeling,” she said.

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A diagnosis she tried to hide

Simran began having symptoms during her freshman year of high school. She was too scared and embarrassed to tell anyone, including her parents. During the fall of her sophomore year, her mom grew concerned and took her to the emergency department. Tests confirmed Simran had Crohn’s disease.

“I was consumed by fear of the unknown. I had no idea what Crohn’s was, and I was feeling lost,” Simran said.

She kept most of it to herself. The symptoms affected her daily life and school, but she avoided talking about them.

Camp changed how Simran saw herself

Take Steps 2024 was Simran’s first glimpse into the IBD community. A week later, she attended Camp Oasis in Mountain Center, Calif., a Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation program for kids with IBD.

Even after her positive Take Steps experience, Simran was terrified that people at camp would judge her if her symptoms flared. Instead, she met other teens who understood what she had been going through. They talked openly about hospital stays, treatments, and the challenges of living with IBD.

“Crohn’s used to feel like such a weakness, but camp changed my perspective on that completely,” she said. “I gained confidence in my diagnosis, and when I got home, I began to share more with my friends and teachers about what I was going through.”

Founding "Gut Togethers"

When camp ended, Simran didn’t want that sense of connection to disappear. She founded the Take Steps Youth Leadership Committee to bring teens with IBD together throughout the year. What began as a small group of friends has grown to include dozens of students who meet regularly, both in person and virtually.

Through “gut togethers” and group conversations, they share experiences that can be hard to talk about elsewhere.

“For many of our new group members, I was the first person they talked to who also had IBD,” Simran said. “I think that first connection to someone who understands is really important.”

Ready for what’s next

When Simran starts college in the fall, she plans to continue her advocacy work and expand opportunities for other young people to get involved. She wants to keep building connections, raising awareness, and helping others feel more comfortable talking about IBD.

When she meets someone newly diagnosed, she’s honest about how hard it can be to talk about IBD—especially for teens.

“IBD is extremely isolating, because of the stigma surrounding GI issues, and it’s really hard to talk about,” she said. “But what got me over that fear was finding friends who wanted to understand. A support system is everything, and I’m so grateful for the people with me today.”

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