I am sure that your article about Crispie the duck (Daily Echo, June 18) brought a great deal of joy to many people.

The significance of First Opportunities was lost in its description as a play group at Ashley.

First Opportunities is an independent charity providing therapeutic structured play for babies and young children with a whole range of disabilities living in East Dorset and the New Forest – it is a unique facility in this region.

It has been successfully helping these youngsters for well over 30 years.

Our aim is to help these children to overcome, or learn to cope with, their disabilities.

The love and care given to the children by a dedicated staff with more or less one-to-one guidance is not cheap and annual operating costs exceed £50,000.

This is why the kindness of the staff at The Mill at Gordleton in supporting us with the profits from their excellent calendar for the second year running is so appreciated; hence our thank you to Terri the manager and Liz the owner of the Mill.

Geoff Pitts, vice-chairman of Trustees, First Opportunities