Ohio native raising money for cat health research

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — An Ohio native is on a mission to raise money for cat health research by riding from California to Maine on a Onewheel.

Joey Luthman is an actor and filmmaker from the Dayton area and now lives in Los Angeles. He has been in shows like “iCarly,” “Chicago Med,” “The Goldbergs,” and, most recently, Netflix’s new series “Monster: The Ed Gein Story.”

Luthman’s latest project began on October 1 when he departed from the Santa Monica Pier. Over the past month, he has gone through several states while riding on a Onewheel. 

“It's like a skateboard you stand on with one big tire in the middle, and you balance on it. It's self-balancing, it’s got a motor, it’s electric,” said Luthman. “It was something I thought about, doing this kind of trip for probably 4 or 5 years now.”

Luthman can go about 15 miles an hour, traveling a little over 100 miles on average every day. He is not making the journey alone. He is joined by his friends and fellow filmmakers Allisyn and Dylan Snyder. Traveling in their midsize SUV, they can track his path.

“We can drive up ahead, scout the road, see how dangerous it is,” said Dylan Snyder. “If it is passable, if there are any other possible routes we could take around the area, and then communicate with Joey the updates as we go along.”

They are also filming his journey along the way and hope to release a documentary in the future.

“We want the Joey’s Ride for Cats to continue well past the Maine stopping point,” said Allisyn Dylan, who also hinted at a possible film festival run.

The goal of this ride is to garner attention, allowing Luthman to raise money and awareness for feline health research in honor of his late cat.

“A couple of years ago, I lost my cat, Winter, to chronic kidney disease. He was 15 and it was a disease that I didn’t know about,” said Luthman. “He was a part of the family for so many years, and we did our best. My parents took great care, I took great care as he got older, but we just didn’t know about this condition and how prevalent it is in cats of all ages and especially older cats.” 

Chronic kidney disease impacts 30-40 percent of cats over 10 years old, according to a study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. That increases to 80 percent in cats over 15. Local experts say research into cat health is not as well-funded as research into canine health, which is why efforts to bring attention to it are so important.

“Cats can always take more money for research, especially for chronic kidney disease, which is the focus of all of this. It’s a disease that we see all too often and is really devastating when it does hit your family,” said Caitlin Dutcher-Lundy, the director of clinic operations at Faithful Friends Veterinary Clinic.

Luthman is partnering with EveryCat Health Foundation, which funds grants worldwide for research into feline health. His long-term goal is to raise $1 million for the nonprofit. 

“Every $50,000 that we get will go towards a full grant, and that will go towards more research, more studies,” said Luthman. “When I get to Maine, when I get to the lighthouse, the trip will be done, but the progress and the donations will not stop, and we will go through the end of the year and beyond.” 

Luthman is expected to make it to the Marshall Point Lighthouse on November 14. To follow his journey and donate, click here.