Leslie Fender, a Vietnam veteran and stroke surviver, poses with his horse, Angel.

LIVERPOOL, Pa. — Despite being tired, worn out and even robbed several times in the past 40 months, modern-day cowboy Leslie Fender and his 10-year-old quarter horse, Angel, won’t be giving up their nationwide journey until they raise $1 million for the National Stroke Association.

“We’re on a mission,” the Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War and Michigan native said Thursday. “Once we hit a million, we’ll stop. We’re going as long as it takes.”

Fender, who started his ride 10,400 miles ago and has raised $755,000 toward stroke research after recovering from a stroke 12 years ago, stopped in the small Pennsylvania town of Liverpool when his horse experienced minor hoof injuries from the road. At an area American Legion, he met Roxie Hughes, who offered her horse stables as a place for Angel to rest.

“I don’t mind helping anyone out, especially for charity,” Hughes said. “Anybody who is doing what he’s doing for the stroke association, I want to help them.”

Hughes has relatives who were affected by strokes, including her daughter, now 41, six years ago.

In 2003, Fender had a stroke and was paralyzed on the right side of his body. After an experimental surgery in 2004 where doctors inserted a stent from his brain to his carotid artery, he made a full recovery.

In early 2012, Fender decided to ride Angel around the nation starting in Steubenville, Texas, in order to raise awareness and funds for stroke victims.

“The doctors saved my life,” he said. “They did it for me, now I’m doing it for them.”

Fender is fond of Angel, calling the four-legged creature his best friend.

The man and horse team, who mostly camp in a tent at night, have hit most of the states in the eastern portion of the country and will be traveling soon to the central and western United States.

In addition to being robbed on the road and having police called about him when camping at an American Legion in Arlington, Fender also has been cited. Just last month, the Leesburg Police Department in Virginia gave him a citation for failing to display reflective gear on either himself or his horse, a violation of state code that dictates anyone riding a horse after sunset must display some sort of reflective material. The citation totaled $162 in fines and court costs.

Not all the stories are of police and robberies, though, he said.

In Franklin, Tennessee, he stopped for lunch at a pub, ate a Reuben sandwich and drank three pints of Guinness beer. He told the owners and patrons of his journey, and they paid for his meal and then gave him a lifetime coupon to eat there for free.

“All because Angel and I were there,” he said. “That was a good time. They had a stable in the forest out there. No one bothered me. It was a great town.”

Fender and Angel will be back on the trail Saturday morning.

For more information on Fender’s cause, visit http://www.stroke.org/.