THIS year sees the 75th birthday of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. RACHEL BARROWS takes a look at the work they do and how one guide dog has transformed the life of a Johnstown woman.

THE lives of thousands of blind and partially-sighted people have been transformed by the independence owning a guide dog brings.

This year the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association celebrates 75 years of training in the UK.

The journey began in Wallasey in 1931 when four blind pioneers took the first steps into a new world of opportunity with four very special German shepherd dogs, Flash, Meta, Judy and Folly - the first British guide dogs.

Three years later, in 1934, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association was founded.

A whole generation of people in Britain have grown up supporting Guide Dogs from collecting milk bottle tops to fund the training of Blue Peter guide dog pup Honey to running the London Marathon.

Today, Guide Dogs is the world-leader in the breeding and training of these special animals.

Plans to develop a new puppy breeding centre and investment in state-of-the-art dog kennels are well under way, which will ensure the best possible guide dogs for the future.

These developments will enable the charity to increase its capacity to provide guide dogs as it reaches out to a diverse mix of visually impaired people in every corner of the country.

Around 1,000 dogs per year are bred as guide dogs, and it costs £10 per day to breed, train and look after each animal.

Guide Dogs receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations

There is a range of services provided including contracted mobility services to local authorities, investing in research into dog health and well-being, funding major research projects into the prevention and cure of eye disease and campaigning for the blind and partially sighted.

Bridget Warr, chief executive of Guide Dogs, said: 'We hope local guide dog owners and supporters of the charity will join us in commemorating the extraordinary partnerships between guide dogs and their owners over the past 75 years. 'We will continue to concentrate on the future needs of blind and partiallysighted people in order to provide the best possible service for many years to come.'

As part of the celebrations, Guide Dogs will be unveiling a new interactive exhibition called Moving Forward Together.

The exhibition will tour museums and shopping centres in the UK throughout this special anniversary year.

Visitors to the exhibition will also have the chance to don special glasses which simulate varying eye conditions.

The Guide Dogs' website www.guidedogs.org.uk provides a complete list of all anniversary events taking place during 2006 - including the Blue Peter Dogathon on Sunday, May 28, at Heaton Park in Manchester.

The event will include a dog show and a sponsored dog walk around the park.

If you would like to support the life-changing work of Guide Dogs for the Blind, call 0870 600 23 23 or visit www.guidedogs.org.uk.