At 90, he's climbing Kilimanjaro for his birthday

Dr. Art Ulene, the physician who spent 23 years as a medical correspondent on NBC's Today show, plans to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro on his 90th birthday this July 13, aiming to become the oldest person to reach Africa's highest peak. It would be his fourth attempt. He and his wife, Priscilla, made the 19,341-foot climb in 2011 and again in 2017. A 2022 try with his grandson ended at 17,000 feet, where Ulene turned back with concerning symptoms while the grandson went on. The idea for this attempt, he told Upworthy, "started almost in jest" when a friend asked about his next adventure. Ulene, who partnered with CareScout, was not an athlete for much of his life. He took up skiing in his mid-40s and never quit exercising. His training began six months ago at three flights of stairs. He is now up to 50 flights, three times a week. "It's never too early to start. It's also never too late," he said.