Remembering Adam and Katina: A Day of Love, Remembrance, and Giving
Updated: 6 days ago
There are some days that are difficult to put into words.
Days when the memories are strong, the emotions are close to the surface, and you are reminded just how quickly life can change.
For those who knew and loved Adam and Katrina, 2023 brought one of those moments when life changed forever. They were tragically taken from their family and friends in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind people who loved them, memories that will never fade, and a hole that can never truly be filled.
But their story did not end that day.
Their story continues through the people who remember them, the people who loved them, and the people who refuse to let their memories fade.
Recently, that love came together for a very special day in their honor.
A Ride for Adam and Katina
The day began at KT Cycles in Hudson, New Hampshire, where riders gathered for a tribute ride honoring Adam and Katrina.
As motorcycles started arriving, it became clear that this was going to be much more than a ride.
It was a gathering of people who wanted to remember.
It was family.
It was friends.
It was the motorcycle community coming together to say, “We haven't forgotten you.”
From KT Cycles, the riders traveled around Lake Massabesic, sharing the road and carrying the memories of Adam and Katrina with them. The ride eventually brought everyone together at AJ's Sports Bar & Grill, where the day continued with stories, laughter, reflection, and remembrance.
There was an unmistakable feeling throughout the day—a feeling of love.
You could see it in the people who showed up.
You could feel it in the conversations.
And you could hear it in the stories about two people who meant so much to so many.
A Loss That Feels Very Familiar
For the Aubrey Mitsch Foundation, this day carried an especially deep meaning.
We know something about what it feels like to have someone you love taken from you far too soon.
In October 2020, our daughter Aubrey Nicole Mitsch was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident. She was only 30 years old.
Aubrey was an Army medic, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and someone who believed in helping others. Her infectious smile and positive outlook touched so many people.
Her loss changed our family forever.
And while no two stories are exactly alike, there is something that happens when you meet others who have experienced a similar loss. There is an understanding that doesn't always require words.
You understand the empty chair.
You understand the memories that can bring both a smile and a tear.
You understand how a song, a place, a motorcycle, or a particular day can suddenly bring someone back into your thoughts as though they were standing beside you.
And you understand why remembering matters.
Turning Grief Into Something Good
One of the most meaningful things we can do for those we have lost is to allow their lives to continue making a difference.
That is what makes the generosity shown during Adam and Katrina's tribute ride so incredibly special.
More than $1,600 was raised during the ride and donated to the Aubrey Mitsch Foundation.
We are humbled and deeply grateful.
This wasn't simply a donation.
It was a gift made in memory of two people whose lives mattered.
And that gift will help us continue our mission of Empowering Futures, Saving Lives, and Inspiring Generosity.
Through our motorcycle safety programs, we work to give riders the knowledge and tools they need to respond when something goes wrong. We provide opportunities for motorcycle-focused first aid training, trauma kits, and other resources designed to help save lives.
Perhaps the greatest tribute to someone lost in a motorcycle accident is to help another rider come home safely.
Their Legacy Continues
Adam and Katrina cannot be brought back.
We wish that were different.
But their lives can still have an impact.
Every person who tells their story keeps a piece of them alive.
Every person who gathers to remember them honors their lives.
And every act of kindness done in their memory becomes another part of their legacy.
The generosity of those who participated in this ride means that Adam and Katrina's names will now be connected to efforts that can potentially help save someone else's life.
That is a beautiful legacy.
As a family that knows the pain of losing someone we love, we cannot adequately express what it means to have the support of a community like this.
Thank you to everyone who organized the ride. Thank you to everyone who rode. Thank you to everyone who donated. And thank you to everyone who came simply because Adam and Katrina mattered.
Most of all, thank you for showing that while tragedy may take someone from us, it does not have to take away the love they left behind.
Adam and Katrina's journey may have ended far too soon, but their legacy continues down the road.
And perhaps, somewhere along that road, their memory will help bring another rider safely home.
Ride on, Adam and Katrina.
You are remembered.You are loved.And you will never be forgotten.
With love and gratitude,The Aubrey Mitsch Foundation
Empowering Futures. Saving Lives. Inspiring Generosity.
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