<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Kids' sport is one of the growing number of casualties from Australia's cost-of-living crisis, with parents increasingly unable to fork out the money to take part.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New research from Lonergan found over one in three (34 per cent) parents are saying they had been forced to choose between household essentials and their kid's sporting activities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And 43 per cent of children who drop out of sport do so for money-related reasons.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-rain-downpour-weather-warnings-adelaide-australia/92b97ab6-8dc6-48b6-b8a2-8f78fab86afa" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Shark warning after Sydney deluge floods city</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The research also showed parents spend a combined average of $1910 on their children's participation in sport, with an average of $575 spent annually on uniforms and equipment alone.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite this, nearly eight in ten (78 per cent) of respondents said participation boosts their children's confidence, and nearly three quarters (73 per cent) said it allows them to engage with their friends and communities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A full 70 per cent said it helped their children meet new people and expand their social circle.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-blocking-kids-from-sport-parramatta-eels-program-helping-with-footy-boots/93ec8e9c-8301-4cb0-b07f-91b64bf56bbd" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/celine-cremer-missing-backpacker-human-remains-provisionally-identified/c1a82f36-3a8b-4a32-b915-f168f745ce68" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Human remains 'provisionally identified' as missing backpacker</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sydney mum Tori Presland is one of those parents struggling to balance living essentials with keeping her sons active in their favourite sport - rugby league.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said she was "definitely" worried about the cost of participation this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Registration fees, mouth guards, head gear, football boots, it all adds up very quickly," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With the cost of living rising, sport can become difficult to afford, and we were really feeling that pressure this season."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/work-from-home-trend-hurting-cbd-pubs-bars-and-restaurants/57f2e84c-0e68-4ecf-a468-cf238a8d19c3" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Where have Friday night drinks gone? Pubs buckle under work-from-home trend</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her youngest son, aged two and a half, also suffers significant health issues which require regular hospital visits, including to the Sydney Children's Hospital and Randwick, as well as thrice-weekly therapy sessions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The family's pockets have also been squeezed by recent hospital visits caused by the little boy's hypertension-induced severe nosebleeds that left him anaemic.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"On top of all that, his medication must be specially compounded because he cannot swallow tablets, costing $171 every 8 days," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Combined with surgeries, tests and specialist care, our medical expenses are already substantial."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, in part thanks to a new partnership between the Parramatta Eels and James Hardie, Mason is still able to take the field this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The football club and building materials company are distributing 1000 pairs of footy boots - a high-expense item - to junior players in the Eels' catchment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Coming through the Eels pathways, I've seen how much community footy means to young players and their families. It gives kids a place to belong and to believe in themselves," Parramatta Eels player Sam Tuivaiti said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But I also know that the cost of gear can put real pressure on parents. That's why this initiative is important, something as simple as a new pair of boots can be the difference between a kid staying in the game or missing out."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Presland said the gifted boots had taken a "huge amount" of financial pressure off the family and allowed her to sign her sons up for sport this season.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They absolutely love the Eels and rugby league and now they can be a part of something that keeps them active, social and happy," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The boots didn't just ease financial pressure - they gave two little boys a sense of pride and excitement. As a family doing it tough, emotionally, physically and financially exhausted this gesture has meant more to us than words can explain."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>