Valerie Reading
Met at: Pickleball courts in The Villages Met date: 2025-03-18 Role(s): Resident of The Villages, yoga instructor, pickleball player, breast cancer survivor support leader, Samaritan's Purse volunteer Last interaction: 2025-05-15 (Phone call)
Contact Information
- Lives in: The Villages (resident for ~12 years, since around 2013)
Interests
- Pickleball (plays for "pure joy" rather than competition after cancer experience)
- Yoga (recently scaled back from teaching four classes weekly)
- Faith and spirituality (devoted Christian)
- International service work with Samaritan's Purse (has served in Brazil, connections to Turkey)
- Supporting breast cancer patients and survivors
- Technology tools that enhance health and community (uses Yuka app for food scanning, Next Door for community connections)
Personal Background
- Breast cancer survivor (diagnosed ~5 years ago, currently in remission - "cancer free, no evidence of disease")
- Met her husband (Bob) when he saved her from drowning (caught in undertow while swimming at night)
- Describes her life as "a series of miracles" and "synchronicities"
- Recently became a grandmother within the last three years
- Mother to at least one son (age 33 as of May 2025) who lives in Boston and works in online marketing. Her son is dating a 28-year-old woman (Alev) of Turkish immigrant background (not a practicing Muslim) and they plan to visit Turkey in August 2025.
- Has experienced her faith deepening significantly during her cancer journey
- Recently decided to step back from yoga teaching to focus on international service opportunities and time with grandchildren
Service Work & Community Leadership
- Organizes "breast buddies" luncheons for 35-40 breast cancer survivors in The Villages
- Provides one-on-one support for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (referred by local gynecologist)
- Shares practical advice about pre/post-surgery experiences, reconstruction options, and recovery products
- Volunteers with Samaritan's Purse for international relief missions
- Lost three friends to breast cancer in the past year
- 2025-03-21: Detailed interview at 2:00pm discussing faith, cancer journey, community support work, and perspectives on life
- 2025-05-15: Phone call with Gary Sheng. Discussed Gary's "Godwave Festival" concept, Paula White's potential involvement, and strategies for networking with large churches (e.g., Rick Warren's, Skip Heitzig's Calvary Baptist Albuquerque). Valerie shared about staying home from a Myanmar mission (her husband Bob went) to care for her mother, her upcoming three-week family trip (12 people) to Dubai, Cape Town, Botswana, and Doha, and her son's current relationship. Also discussed the large baptism event (7,700 people) in Huntington Beach.
Philosophy & Outlook
- Lives by the question: "If this is my last year of life, what do I want to do?"
- Believes in seeing the "little miracles" in everyday life
- Views difficulties (including cancer) as opportunities for growth
- Focuses on intentional living rather than "day-to-day urgency"
- Sees faith as central to navigating life's challenges
- Believes God orchestrates connections between people for purpose
Notes
- Taught a yoga class on the morning of March 18th (attended by Debbie Patterson)
- Describes The Villages as "weirdly wonderful"
- Appreciates how The Villages breaks down socioeconomic barriers between residents
- Uses technology to enhance daily life (food scanning app, community platforms)
- Has helped others navigate insurance claims (shared roof damage experience on Next Door)
- Friend of Debbie Patterson
- Describes feeling closer to Jesus during cancer than any other time in her life
- Stopped participating in pickleball tournaments after cancer to focus on joy rather than competition
Transcripts
| Transcript ID | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-21-interview-with-valerie-reading | 2025-03-21 | In-depth interview covering cancer journey, faith perspective, community support work, and life in The Villages |
Interaction History
- 2025-03-17: Possibly met at Debbie Patterson's dinner party (implied)
- 2025-03-18: Pickleball session from 12:30-2:00pm
- 2025-03-21: Detailed interview at 2:00pm discussing faith, cancer journey, community support work, and perspectives on life
Recent Activities (as of May 2025)
- Her husband, Bob, spent a month in Myanmar with Samaritan's Purse after an earthquake, setting up a field hospital and performing surgeries. They were one of the few American groups allowed in.
- Valerie stayed home from the Myanmar trip in April 2025 due to her own doctor's appointments and assisting her mother with moving and care.
- Planning a three-week trip starting mid-May 2025 with her husband's siblings (12 people total) to Dubai, Cape Town, Botswana, and Doha.
- Met Edward Graham (Franklin Graham's son) and his wife at a Samaritan's Purse related event.