A group has formed Team Bingham, which will run a marathon in the summer to raise money for the scholarship that was founded in Bingham's name. The team is looking for additional participants in the June 1 San Diego event.

Bingham, 31, was a Los Gatos High School and UC-Berkeley graduate who died on Sept. 11, 2001.

After his death, the Mark Bingham Leadership Fund was started to benefit UC-Berkeley students who have shown leadership and teamwork skills. Scholarships will cover tuition and associated expenses for both male and female students.

"We talked about running the AIDS marathon in Honolulu," said Bingham's friend, Los Gatos High School graduate Todd Sarner. The two had planned to start training in the fall of 2001.

Bingham's friends gathered to mark the one-year anniversary of his death. At the event, Sarner talked about using a marathon to raise money for the fund.

Joe Salama, another of Bingham's friends, "just kind of picked it up and ran with it," Sarner said. Salama became the team captain.

Salama had been training for his first marathon when Bingham died and was the only person in the group who had running experience. "I figured that my prior marathons have been grooming me for Team Bingham," Salama said.

The team decided to participate in the Suzuki Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego. Salama is looking for team members to raise $2,000 each, all of which will go to the fund; any amount raised beyond that amount can be used for the runners' travel expenses or running gear.

In the meantime, team members will train on a regular basis. There are two groups—one in San Francisco, another in the South Bay—that meet throughout the week, and both groups will do a weekly Saturday run together, with a PacWest Athletics coach doing the training.

"No prior experience is required—we specialize in beginners," Salama said. As long as a doctor gives a green light, runners will be able to make it past the finish line.

To become a participant in the marathon or to contribute money, visit www.teambingham.org.