What started as a wish to help poverty-stricken children in the Dominican Republic has continued as a dream to become charitable rockstars.

When Blake Smith-Daniels, 12, and his family were vacationing in the Caribbean about six years ago, Blake noticed a group of young children kicking around a stone and wondered why they werenB次元官网网址檛 playing with toys.

B次元官网网址淚 asked my mum B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址楳um, where are all their toys?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Blake says. B次元官网网址淎nd (her answer was) they hadnB次元官网网址檛 got any toys.B次元官网网址�

After returning from the trip, Blake, who was six at the time, celebrated his birthday by asking not for gifts for himself, but for money to donate to children living in the Dominican Republic.

B次元官网网址淲e were kind of appalled by the living standards (there),B次元官网网址� says BlakeB次元官网网址檚 brother, Brett Smith-Daniels, who plays lead guitar and vocals.

Since then, both brothers, who form half of the local band Endurance, have dreamed about being able to help children living in developing countries.

B次元官网网址淚 think helping people through music is an important thing because people forget about the third world (countries) and the struggles that people go through there every day to survive,B次元官网网址� Brett, 15, says. B次元官网网址淲e take money for granted here in Canada.B次元官网网址�

Brett and Blake formed Endurance about two-and-a-half years ago with their friend Michael Tessier, 16.

The Oak Bay based-band was invited to represent the SOS ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Villages, an independent social development organization helping children and their families in poverty-stricken regions, by playing at Massey Hall in Toronto, as part of its A Night at Massey Hall fundraiser in 2010.

The band has stuck together since, and brought aboard bass player Trevor Kidd, 17, in March of this year.

Endurance describes themselves as a rock-and-roll-blues band.

Inspired by a mixture of musical styles, each member brings a unique flavour to the band, drummer Michael says.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like cooking,B次元官网网址� Blake, who plays keyboard, interrupts.

The boys poke fun of each other and laugh.

Although Trevor is the newest member of the band, all four boys act like brothers.

The groupB次元官网网址檚 focus is clear: to become rockstars. But not stereotypical ones.

B次元官网网址�(Our goal is) to be making a living off playing music,B次元官网网址� Trevor says. B次元官网网址淣ot the standard rockstar persona B次元官网网址� having a mansion, fancy cars B次元官网网址� just enough to have a regular suburban house, comfortable living, and then with the excess money, weB次元官网网址檇 be able to help people who have nothing.B次元官网网址�

Endurance seems to be getting a little closer to its dream.

The band auditioned for the CBC-TV show, DragonsB次元官网网址� Den, in mid-March during the producersB次元官网网址� stop in Victoria.

B次元官网网址淲e figured that we needed an opportunity to help us get off the ground and the coverage of national TV is a great, great thing,B次元官网网址� Brett says.

The band found out about the casting call two days before it was held in Victoria and quickly scrambled together a pitch.

B次元官网网址淚t was very scattered and kind of rushed to get things together,B次元官网网址� Trevor says. B次元官网网址淚 thought the idea was absolutely crazy, and I had no hope in it at all.B次元官网网址�

They B次元官网网址渓ucked outB次元官网网址� and were invited to perform in front of the Dragons at the CBC studios in Toronto on May 12. The episode should air sometime next season between September 2012 and March 2013.

B次元官网网址淲e can tell you that it was a very, very exciting experience,B次元官网网址� Michael says.

The band had a month to prepare for its pitch in Toronto and put together a proper business plan, an experience they call B次元官网网址渟tressful and terrifying.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淔or the music (part), we thought, B次元官网网址極K, we have this sort of covered,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Michael says. B次元官网网址淏ut it was the pitch (that made us nervous).B次元官网网址�

But like the bandB次元官网网址檚 name, inspired by a Nelson Mandela quote, they remained strong throughout the process.

To the band, endurance means staying strong in tough times and being committed to the industry.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 not all too much money nowadays in the music industry,B次元官网网址� Brett adds.

B次元官网网址淥bviously you can make a living out of it, but weB次元官网网址檙e doing it for the love of it.B次元官网网址�

For more information about the band, look them up on Facebook by searching Endurance.