Texas resident Rex Covington pulled into a Sun City fast-food restaurant Monday and was uploading a video when a patron asked if he could sit down.

Turns out Mr. Covington’s visit to the McDonald’s near 99th Avenue and Bell Road is due in part to a $90,000 dream he had one year ago to help raise funds for a cure for diabetes.

In 2003, his son Christopher Covington was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes when doctors determined his pancreas had stopped working. In 2015, Christopher blacked out due to complications from his diabetes and died in a fiery vehicle crash.

Mr. Covington wondered if he could have done anything to prevent the event.

“I came up with many scenarios, but there was really nothing I could have done to prevent my son from dying,” he writes on his website and postcards.

But in January 2018, Mr. Covington had one of the most vivid dreams, setting him on a course that has since seen him drive 20,000-plus miles across the U.S.

“I was riding around the country for one whole year on my motorcycle, raising awareness and funds for diabetes,” he told the Daily News-Sun Monday afternoon.

“I had this big, huge symbolic $90,000 check that I was handing to the American Diabetes Association. I told some friends about the dream and they said you should do this. I made some calls and next thing I know on June 21 I was on the road.”

Since then, he has visited states including Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, West Virginia, New Mexico and Arizona. As of his meeting with the Daily News-Sun, Mr. Covington was planning on driving to Quartzsite Tuesday and then to San Diego, California.

He attends festivals, rallies, events and other places the American Diabetes Association recommends.

He had posted about his most recent trek between Lordsburg, New Mexico and Sierra Vista in the far south of the Grand Canyon State.

So what brought him to Sun City as he makes his way to California?

“I have a friend (whose) dad is at hospice and he’s here,” Mr. Covington said. “I wasn’t going to come up here. He said you need to go over to the paper and tell them your story.”

His visit to the senior-populated area had its rewards. He met Harry Sorich, a veteran of World War II, at the McDonald's.

Meetings like that have filled Mr. Covington’s book of experiences driving his motorcycle. He tends to avoid the major highways, cutting through the “roads less traveled.” Attached to his motorcycle is a 6-by-4-foot trailer-wagon that he sleeps in from time to time at rest areas, truck stops and other places. Sometimes he visits a friend’s house or books a hotel/motel room.

Mr. Covington is $6,000 in since he started his journey in June. His goal of $90,000 is lofty, but he appreciates any help he can get.

“The whole purpose of this — I call it working but it really isn’t — is to raise the awareness and funds,” he said. “I would love people to go to my website and if their heart desires they can donate. All that money goes to the American Diabetes Association.”

Type 1 diabetes occurs at every age, in people of every race, and of every shape and size. The ADA says there are more adults who have type 1 diabetes than children, although it was previously known as juvenile diabetes.

About 1.25 million Americans have type 1 diabetes and an estimated 40,000 people will be newly diagnosed each year in the U.S.

Those interested in helping Mr. Covington and the American Diabetes Association can donate at http://main.diabetes.org/goto/LoneStarRider or email rexjc@mac.com.