Our Story

Honouring Claire’s Legacy

Let’s begin with a truth: friendship is a funny old thing. It doesn't always mean living next door to someone, or seeing them every day but its knowing that they are there. So when they are no longer around to cheer you on its a real sucker punch. But from that grief, if you’re lucky, something beautiful can grow. That’s exactly what happened when our founder, Em, lost her brilliant, big-hearted, utterly unforgettable friend Claire.

Back in 2017, Claire was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now, if you didn’t know Claire, let us paint you a picture. She was the kind of woman who could silence a room and make you listen—but not because she was intimidating. Because she knew she had something to say, she would make sure everyone around her felt seen. An absolute power house that everyone loved.

When she began to lose her hair during treatment she asked Em to make her some headwear as she "wasn't wearing a dodgy wig" and Em wasn't sure (she made kids items ladies were never on her radar) but she rose to the challenge and decided to make headwear that reflected the very essence of Claire—bold, beautiful, fierce, and full of life. That’s how the first pieces of Eadiechops Organic Headwear came to be: striking turbans in loud prints, made from soft, sustainable organic cotton, designed not just to cover, but to empower.

It wasn’t just fashion. It was armour. A crown. A statement that said, “I’m still me. And I look fabulous.”

And so began Em’s quiet mission—one bold headwrap at a time—to help people feel less alone in the toughest of times.

From Friendship to Foundation

Fast forward to 2024. After years of love, laughter, and a hell of a lot of strength, Claire passed away. And Em knew she needed to do something. Something that took Claire’s light and made it last, do something that she knew Claire would be absolutely buzzing about!

That something became The Murphy Project CIC. The idea was simple: to take everything Em had learned through the years of creating headwear, supporting people, and walking alongside Claire, and turn it into a force for good. A real, boots-on-the-ground kind of support system for people going through cancer and hair loss—not just the ones in the treatment chair, but their families, friends, and the people holding their hands through it all.

And would you believe it? Within just three months of launching The Murphy Project, we were awarded funding from the Welsh National Lottery Community Fund. If that’s not a cosmic nod from Claire herself, we don’t know what is.

More Than a Mission—It’s a Movement

The Murphy Project isn’t just about headwear anymore. We’re about hope, humour, and human connection. We’re a CIC—a Community Interest Company—which means everything we do is for the benefit of others. We don’t just talk the talk. We walk it, turban-clad and all.

Since launching, we’ve:

  • Created reduced-cost and fully-funded care packages for people experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy or autoimmune conditions.

  • Hosted well-being days in West Wales (shoutout to Ceredigion!) offering services like oncology massage, wig consultations, makeup tutorials, sound healing, yoga, and more.

  • Built a growing online network for those who can’t attend events in person, ensuring no one misses out on support.

  • Laid the groundwork for a unique illustrated information booklet for newly diagnosed patients—something lighter, friendlier, and more relatable than the 100-page tomes currently on offer.

  • Grown from “small team with a big heart” to “small team with a big heart and an even bigger impact.”

And people are noticing.

We’ve recently been named a regional finalist in the UK StartUp Awards for Social Enterprise of the Year in Wales. We’re still stunned, to be honest. But we also know this recognition reflects the power of our community, and Claire’s indelible legacy.

What Makes Us Different

There are some excellent organisations out there—we see you, Macmillan—and we tip our hats to them. We wanted to do something different.

Our approach is modern, digestible, and kind. We use illustrations, straight-talking language, and practical advice. We want people to feel informed, prepared, and—crucially—less afraid. Because facing cancer is hard enough without having to sift through a novel-length manual about hair loss.

We talk like friends do. We make things that feel good to touch and comforting to wear. We laugh. We cry. We’re in it with you.

Where We’re Going

This is only the beginning.

In Claire’s honour, we plan to keep growing. That means:

  • Applying for larger grants to expand our services beyond Wales, while continuing to offer region-specific support.

  • Collaborating with healthcare providers to offer our care packages and booklets directly at the point of diagnosis.

  • Launching new community projects, including an art exhibition that reflects the emotional and physical journey of cancer.

  • Creating jobs and volunteer roles for people affected by cancer, so they can be part of a purpose-driven, empathetic team.

  • Providing even more funded care packages, particularly for those in financial hardship.

And yes, we’ll keep making those bold, organic turbans—because Claire would’ve wanted it that way.

Why Your Support Matters

We’ve got big dreams. But we also know that dreams need support. That’s where you come in.

Every single donation, grant, purchase, or collaboration helps us move forward. Helps us say “yes” to one more care package. 

We’re not a faceless charity machine. We’re real people doing real things in memory of a real woman who changed our lives.

By backing The Murphy Project, you’re not just supporting a cause. You’re becoming part of a legacy—Claire’s legacy. One built on strength, style, and an unshakable sense of community.

So here’s our invite to you, funders, grant-makers, champions of grassroots change: Join us. Help us honour Claire. Help us reach the people who need us most.

We promise to use every penny, every partnership, and every opportunity to do what we do best—wrap people in love, bold prints, and the knowledge that they’re not alone.