Help Chelsea Burke rebuild after losing Adam Turck

We are coming together to help Chelsea Burke rebuild her life after losing Adam Turck.

My name is Ruth Hedberg. Chelsea is one of my most beloved. I am her coworker, her partner in silliness and growth, her chosen family along with Adam and I am establishing this fundraiser for her.

What happened:

Chelsea (and all of us) lost Adam Turck to a senseless act of violence, when he stepped in to protect the life of someone in danger. Chelsea cannot remain in the apartment she and Adam shared and outside of which he was shot. She has lost her platonic soulmate and partner in everything except romance. She deserves a sense of safety and security as she heals. If there is someone in our community as loved, as selfless and as utterly supportive of others as Adam, it is Chelsea Burke. There is a reason they chose to share a home and so much of their lives with each other.

Adam Turck was shot outside his and Chelsea’s apartment building on the morning of 8/2/2025. He will not survive his injuries and will be completing his journey as an organ donor soon. Adam died as he lived; fiercely dedicated to his principles, in the eternal service of others, and, we are sure, would do so again in a second.

Please see the press coverage below for more context

WTVR - First coverage, including a great interview with his friend CJ

12 On Your Side - interview with more friends

People - "That's what heroes do"

Daily Mail UK - A very in depth round up of previous coverage and som truly "Adam" pictures

Support Adam’s family by supporting Chelsea:

We have been in close collaboration with Adam’s family throughout. They are doing as well as one can hope to be in these circumstances, and their first concern outside of Adam has been Chelsea’s care and well-being. On the day it was confirmed that Adam would not be surviving this, his father, Peter Turck, would not hear any ideas on how the family could be supported until he knew for sure that Chelsea was being cared for and thought of. Please be reassured as you consider donating to this fundraiser that the Turck family is not only aware of our efforts, but they are in enthusiastic support. They are well cared for, and know that the door is open for them to ask us for any support or assistance they may need.

Chelsea and Adam:

In this tragedy, Chelsea lost her platonic partner and friend soulmate. They had an overlapping call to tell stories well and with integrity, to understand people, and to make everyone around them better by constantly learning to be kinder, gentler, more empathetic, stronger versions of themselves. Chelsea and Adam first lived together in 2018, though they were fast friends before that. They shared Chandler Hubbard's home with other RVA theatre friends and that house has been a center of community memories for many of us. They briefly lived apart during 2021 and 2022 as lives and priorities shifted, but when the opportunity arose to choose next steps for both of them, Chelsea and Adam came back together to build their own little domestic life in an apartment of their own. Chelsea and Adam share a constant engagement and movement in their community. They are always at the show, always there to see a friend, always working on the next project or the next story to tell. But, they always came home to each other as family. They spent so much of their time discussing their mutual loved ones and celebrating their community while they played co-op video games and navigated how anyone could share a fridge with Adam’s chaotic dietary regime. They are also both “shrine” builders. Their apartment is full of little collections and tributes to their passions, shared and individual. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if when Chelsea’s new space is finally established, there will be a little display for Adam.

Our intentions and uses for funds raised:

All funds will be used to cover Chelsea’s expenses as she grieves, including any lost wages, as well as covering the logistics and any costs incurred by relocating her life and establishing a new home here. Any funds beyond those costs will be dedicated to a purpose that Adam would pursue, or donated to a cause he supported. In this case, we will keep all donors updated on those choices as we continue to spread the goodwill and support that has sprung from this tragedy.

Thank you for everything you can do to donate, share or spread this fundraiser so we can take care of our girl the way she always takes care of us. Now more than ever, Chelsea needs her superheroes.