DOWAGIAC — Dowagiac’s One Story program continues with an event Thursday, this time with a program to connect generations through health.

The Cass County Council on Aging’s Front Street location, 227 S. Front St., Dowagiac, will host the One Story program event at 1 p.m. Thursday. The program will be led by fitness instructor Virginia Martynowicz and focus on cardiovascular health. As part of the program, Martynowicz will go through a list of foods that are both good and bad for the cardiovascular system as well as talk about the importance of cardiovascular exercise. Those who attend the program will also leave with a recipe for a heart-healthy meal.

Dowagiac’s One Story program is a collaborative program running until the end of May that involves a series of events relating to the theme of a chosen book, this year’s being Mitch Albom’s “Tuesdays with Morrie” and N.L. Sharp’s “Effie’s Image.” The overall theme for this year’s program is “connecting generations.”

Martynowicz said her program fits into the theme because everyone, no matter their age, needs to be concerned with their cardiovascular health.

“This is a presentation that I feel anyone and everyone should come to,” she said. “Eating properly and exercising is a learned thing. You have to learn to do these things for your own benefit, because in the end, everyone’s goal in life is to live and the best way to live independently is to be healthy.”

When Martynowicz was made aware that the COA would be hosting a One Story event, she was told she could choose any topic she would like to explore with the public. She said she knew right away that she wanted to focus on cardiovascular health.

The subject is particularly near and dear to her heart as her grandfather had a heart attack a year and a half ago.

“I want people to realize how important it is to eat right, be healthy and exercise,” she said. “I hear every day people say things like ‘I would never skydive because I could die.’ But people don’t think that way when they are choosing the food they eat. In reality, you don’t take care of your health, that could end up killing you.”

Since working at the COA, Martynowicz said she has met many area seniors who are working to take care of themselves through exercise. Fitting in with the theme of the One Story Program, she believes that the younger people of Dowagiac could learn from these seniors.

“The seniors I know are consistent. They are in there every day working out,” she said. “I think if younger people came in to the Council on Aging, they would learn a lot from these people. … [Seniors] are working hard to better themselves so they can stay independent.”

Martynowicz said she hopes the community will enjoy the program, because she believes in the importance of cardiovascular health.

“I want people to live long, healthy lives. I want people to be able to live independently when they get older,” she said. “It is never too early or too late to start.”