It was a beautiful Saturday morning at the beach.  Slightly overcast so as not to be too terribly hot.  From the pavilion where I set up I could hear the ocean waves against the sand and the occassional peal of laughter from the 2 year old's birthday party in the playground.  Associates started to arrive to walk bringing with them drinks and chips and fruit. 

Over 40 associates from 6 stores walked 2 miles south to the boardwalk, some stopped for Starbucks, and then they walked the 2 miles back to where we started.  It didn't take long but they were grateful for the snacks when they came back.  Have you walked along the beach lately?  These dedicated Wal-Mart and Sam's Club associates love to help hospitalized kids by raising money for Children's Miracle Network - and they are good at it.  I like to think on Saturday they were walking along the beach for all those kids in the hospital who missed the summer fun, or who can't walk or who are just too darn tired from being sick.  I hope the associates took a minute to look out over the ocean and truly realize how important they are to the kids in the hospital and how much their dedication is an inspiration.