Valerie Murphy is the lady behind Valeries Breast Care, a post-operative consultation, care and advice service that she runs from Limerick. She has worked in different guises in different countries but her journey in this career started in Austin, Texas in 2012, as a Breast Cancer Charity volunteer. With Breast Cancer Awareness Month behind us, she reminds us that breast cancer is the disease that can strike at any time.
“Travel has been a big part of my life and I have been fortunate to live and work in a few different countries, working in the travel industry mostly. Work has always been a passion & I can honestly say I have enjoyed every job that I have ever had. My most interesting one was when I was living in Sydney – I managed a dating agency for nearly four years. It was a lot of fun & I got a great kick out of matching people together.”
So how did your involvement with breast care come about?
“In 2012 my family and I moved to Austin, Texas. My husband, Finbarr, was working with the University of Texas for a year. We were very excited about the move. While there I became involved in a Breast Cancer Charity as a volunteer. My jobs were varied – from stuffing comfort cushions for women to use after surgery to help with a fashion show fundraiser. My youngest child, Frankie was two at the time and he would come along with me. I even had him fill goodie bags for the fashion show! One day I was chatting with a fellow volunteer. She told me her mastectomy fitter had called to her house that morning to fit her with bras. I was intrigued & thought about how I would love to do this for women in my region. It was literally a lightbulb moment. As soon as I got back to our house, I did some research and noticed that there wasn’t a service in Ireland providing home visits to women after breast cancer surgery. The rest is history. Everything fell into place! I trained in Texas, bought stock, and planned everything to do on my return to Limerick Ireland. I couldn’t have been more excited about getting started in my new business.”
And the world of post-operative underwear and clothing?
“The world of post-operative clothing is so interesting. I work with companies in the USA, Germany, and the UK mostly. New and innovative products are regularly coming on the market. The world of post-operative clothing is better now than when I started 11 years ago. This year I attended trade shows, had updated training & also met with other mastectomy shops who I work closely with. In January I am off to Paris for a trade show. This time I am bringing my son, Paddy, who is a Transition Year student. We are looking forward to seeing the sights of Paris as well as the fashion!”
What is different about working in this sector?
“This sector is so personal. I get to know my customers really well. Women in Ireland are entitled to bras and prostheses through their medical cards or health insurance. With this, I have women whom I meet every year at the same time. We know each other pretty well after 11 years. I am so grateful to those who contacted me, from the beginning even though I was new and had so little stock. They were patient and gave me time to order from the companies. These women allowed me to grow my service which has helped so many other women over the years. I now have a huge amount of stock with amazing choices for everyone. I am eternally grateful to every woman I have met in her home, a cancer support centre, or at my shop.”
Your proudest moment to date?
“I have many moments where I have pinched myself as my breast care service is in all aspects of my life. I have met the most amazing women. Strong, brave women who are role models to so many of us. During the years, I have been involved with organisations that not only help women but also spread the important message of being breast-aware and practising good breast health. One of these organisations is the Marie Keating Foundation. Over the years I have had models who are breast cancer survivors on the catwalk at their fashion show. This literally brought tears to my eyes. My role models were models!!! Anne Farrell Kinsella is the lovely lady pictured here.
Your biggest mistake?
“When you run a business you have to wear so many different hats. My biggest mistake over the years has been that I have been too hard on myself. There are so many different areas, appointments with customers, purchasing products, marketing, community involvement, accounts…. the list goes on and on and on!!! I am involved with a women’s business group called Network Ireland and through that, I have learned different ways of finding the balance between work and life. It hasn’t been easy as I am a bit of control freak!”
The business is very much a family affair!
A Typical Week…in your life
“When I started the service, my intention was to grow it around my children. The youngest is nearly a teenager now and life is a bit easier. Everything is planned and packed into the daily diary. Driving them to school in the city, seeing a customer, calling to a cancer support centre and then doing the grocery shopping is all part of the day.
I am an early bird – purchasing mastectomy products online, marketing, social media, and accounts all happen in the morning before the sun comes up. Having my own business means I can work around them and if that means having to do something like the accounts at all hours of the morning then it is worth it.
My daughter, Isolde, is very organised, much more than I am and she has got the job of ensuring all bras are where they should be in the shop! The business is very much a family affair!”
Special Moments in Your Career
“I have won awards for my breast care service over the years and that has been very special. It has been really motivating to be recognised for working within the community.”
If you were not working in this field, then what do you think you would have done instead?
“I love the fashion side of my service. If I wasn’t doing what I do I would most probably be involved in some type of retail fashion. What we wear and how we dress is so important to how we feel. Yes, I definitely think fashion would be the industry for me.”
What is your greatest challenge?
“My greatest challenge is guilt at not walking my dogs as much as I would like to. We live in the countryside and have some of the best places to walk. I wish there were more hours in the day!”
Time out?
Trying to walk the dogs! Lunch with friends, time with family, travelling when I can with the family.
Pet Hate?
I have a few – phone etiquette in company; borrowing and not returning an item – the list goes on. I had a number of Aunts who trained me well!
My cousin, Vicky, and I call it the ‘Book of Etiquette’.
You can reach Valerie on 085 160 1783 Facebook – Valerie’s Breast Care
