Kina Usaia's 700km Run to Raise Suicide Awareness
Kina Usaia, a 34‑year‑old former inmate, will run 700 kilometres from Newcastle to the Gold Coast on Saturday to raise awareness of suicide and mental‑health issues. His sister, Moala, died by suicide in 2015 at age 25, prompting him to dedicate his life to preventing similar tragedies.
Usaia spent seven years in prison from age 15 on assault‑related charges, and his family has been affected by serious crime: a cousin received a 24‑year murder sentence in 2017, and a brother was jailed for eight years after a 2019 brawl outside the Flamingo Lounge in Kings Cross that left five police officers hospitalised. He was sentenced to 500 hours of community service for that incident, which he says helped steer him toward a positive path.
In 2017 he moved to Newcastle, gained custody of his son, and later co‑founded the Never Fold Collective charity with Nathan Griffin. The organisation mentors young people in schools and the community, focusing on self‑worth, resilience and emotional awareness. The 700km run is intended to honour his sister’s memory and promote mental‑health support across New South Wales.
Entities
Kina Usaia · Moala Usaia · Nathan Griffin · Never Fold Collective · Newcastle, Australia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kina Usaia's sister, Moala, died by suicide in 2015 at age 25. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kina Usaia spent seven years in prison since age 15 for assault‑related charges. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kina Usaia will run 700 km from Newcastle to the Gold Coast on Saturday. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Kina Usaia was sentenced to 500 hours of community service for the Kings Cross incident. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2019, his siblings were involved in a brawl outside the Flamingo Lounge in Kings Cross, resulting in five police officers being hospitalised and his brother receiving an eight‑year jail sentence. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] He co‑founded the Never Fold Collective charity in Newcastle with Nathan Griffin, which mentors young people on self‑worth, resilience and emotional awareness. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2017, Kina Usaia's cousin was sentenced to 24 years in prison for murder. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] The run is intended to raise awareness of suicide and mental‑health issues. www.newcastleherald.com.au · www.dungogchronicle.com.au · www.gloucesteradvocate.com.au