SIR, This year assistance dog charity Canine Partners is celebrating 25 years of transforming the lives of people with physical disabilities. The charity was formed in 1990 and has to date partnered 530 assistance dogs across the UK.  These amazing dogs have changed the lives of those they are helping: restoring independence, giving family members peace of mind, allowing their disabled partners to return to work and even saving lives by responding in emergencies. Canine Partners, which receives no government funding and relies solely on donations, trains dogs to perform tasks such as opening and closing doors, undressing, pressing buttons, retrieving items, unloading washing machines, taking card and cash from ATMs and other everyday tasks that disabled people find difficult, painful or impossible to do for themselves.  Andy Cook, CEO at Canine Partners, said: "Everyone can take part this year in one of our 25 challenges that are listed on our website.  Even I and our staff are taking on a challenge - cycling from our Southern Centre to our Midlands Centre, which will be somewhere between 180 to 200 miles, all to raise money to train more dogs.  "Or, if you have spare time, perhaps you could volunteer for us by becoming a puppy parent, and play a part in the early training of our amazing dogs.  "We are really hoping to expand during our 25th anniversary year, but we can't do it without the help and commitment of the public." To find out more about Canine Partners 25th anniversary challenges, or to enquire about being a puppy parent, please visit caninepartners.org.uk or call 08456 580480.   Laura Molyneaux (Communications officer)