A Warwick man is about to leave for the endurance test of a lifetime: climbing Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro.

Frank Welling, who works as a chiropractor and trainer, owns a gym in Warwick. A client who Welling trains dared him to climb Africa's tallest mountain, and Welling accepted.

"Everybody else thinks I'm nuts," Welling admits. Still, he's not deterred. He's been biking, running, lifting weights and working out with medicine balls in preparation. Welling has even been working out two times a day since January.

The trainer with a heart will scale 19,000 feet of mountainside to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and Make-A-Wish Foundation. So far, he's raised $20,000.

Welling and a friend leave Wednesday morning.