Wyckoff, New Jersey, USA – September 1, 2026 – Last year, actor Joey Luthman embarked on a cross-country ride on a OneWheel electric skateboard to raise money in support of his $1 million goal for EveryCat Health Foundation—a non-profit dedicated to advancing feline health by supporting a variety of research and education initiatives. This year, Luthman released a documentary chronicling the trip to raise funds for EveryCat’s fight against feline chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cancer. “CAT MAN: Journey to Save Cat Kind,” which follows the actor on his ride from California to Maine, premiered at the PopCon Film Festival 2026. The film is also available for screenings at coffee shops, humane society facilities, and cat sanctuaries.
A New Challenge and Fundraising Opportunity
Luthman’s OneWheel ride may be over, but his dedication to raising money for EveryCat continues. This year, in an effort to get closer to his fundraising goal, he will embark on a new challenge: breaking the world record for the most consecutive pogo stick jumps with no hands. On Sept. 19, during the JOEY JUMPS FOR CATS event, he will attempt to break the current record—16,100 jumps—and will share this accomplishment with cat lovers. The event will include a raffle, games, and standup comedy performances while Joey is jumping. Cat Years and Brook Fountains are among the event sponsors focusing on the relevance of hydration for cat health.
“When I break the record, I want to make it an event where people can come and watch, and participate in fun activities, because I want to make it a big fundraiser,” said Luthman.
In the meantime, Luthman will appear with EveryCat at this year’s CatCon 2026 event on Oct. 10–11 in Pasadena, California.
Luthman’s motivation to raise money for EveryCat comes from his own personal heartbreak: In 2023, he lost his beloved cat, Winter, to CKD. Soon thereafter, a close friend’s cat, Momo, lost a battle with cancer. Not wanting other cat lovers to lose their fur babies to these devastating diseases, Luthman looked for an organization that puts its donation dollars toward researching the conditions—and EveryCat was the exact kind of charity he wanted to contribute to.
“EveryCat Health Foundation’s work over the years has led to breakthroughs in helping cats,” he said. “With the work they’ve funded on feline chronic kidney disease and cancer, I thought it was the perfect place to connect with to raise money for these causes.”
EveryCat Health Foundation’s Cures4Cats Campaign Returns With CKD Focus
Every year, EveryCat’s Cures4Cats Campaign focuses on a specific feline disease to raise awareness and funds for a cure. As part of this year’s initiative, EveryCat will host two webinars that are available to the veterinary and cat lover communities. On Aug. 25, Dr. Autumn Harris from NC State College of Veterinary Medicine gave a presentation about early intervention and emerging CKD therapies, and Dr. Jessica Quimby from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine will speak about the correlation between plasma cell pododermatitis and immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis kidney disease on Sept. 17.
Both webinars are live at 7 p.m. EST and will be available for on-demand viewing on the THINKIFIC platform (https://everycathealth.thinkific.com), EveryCat’s eLearning Center. Veterinary professionals can receive continuing education credits for participating in the sessions.
The Cures4Cats Campaign will raise money for feline kidney disease during August and September, and animal health company Zoetis will provide a $23,000 matching donation.
“Feline chronic kidney disease is far too common, and it leaves far too many cat lovers heartbroken,” said EveryCat’s President and CEO Jackie Ott Jaakola. “We are proud to continue funding CKD research, and grateful for Joey Luthman’s continued support for our mission to help cats around the world live healthy and happy lives.”
Learn more about EveryCat’s Cures4Cats Campaign at www.everycat.org. View the trailer for “CAT MAN” at catmanfilm.com and stay updated about JOEY JUMPS FOR CATS on his social media, @TheCatManFilm on all platforms.
About EveryCat Health Foundation
EveryCat Health Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 1968, advances feline health by supporting groundbreaking research and education. Its work worldwide has funded $12 million in cat health research at more than 30 partner institutions. Efforts are made possible through the generosity of dedicated donors and collaborators. Research supported by EveryCat Health Foundation helps veterinary professionals by providing groundbreaking research that improves diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of common feline health problems. Grants are awarded at least twice yearly with the help of the foundation’s expert review panel.
For further information or to support feline health research, please visit http://www.everycat.org.
Media Contact:
Jackie Ott Jaakola, EveryCat Health Foundation, 1 2012750624, [email protected], visit http://www.everycat.org
Media ContactCompany Name: EveryCat Health FoundationContact Person: Pam AbrahamssonEmail: Send EmailPhone: (503)298-9749City: WyckoffState: NJCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://everycat.org/
