The Madison Mallards are teaming up with TDS to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Starting at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, June 3rd Maynard G. Mallard, the team?s mascot, will be striking for cancer on a Mallards billboard. Maynard will stay nested on the billboard for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The proceeds for all quack packs (packets of 10 general admission tickets good for any game) sold in the 24 hour period will go to the American Cancer Society.

?Maynard doesn?t do much around the office anyways. I figured this was a good way to get him out in the community and try and raise money for a great cause, ? Mallards General Manager Vern Stenman said. ?The work of the American Cancer Society affects many involved with the Mallards organization and in the Madison area. Thanks to TDS and our fans we will be able to contribute to this important cause.?

Maynard will be perched on the Mallards billboard located on the Beltline near Verona Road starting early Thursday morning. Members of the Mallards staff and representatives of the American Cancer Society will be available to the media throughout the day. Please contact Conor Caloia (608)213-5340 or Vern Stenman (608)575-4267 for more information.

The Mallards staff will be answering phones throughout the entire 24 hour period. Tickets can be ordered by calling the Mallards office at (608)246-4277 or online at www.mallardsbaseball.com.

?We are honored to be working with the Mallards,? ACS Madison Chapter spokesperson Kresha Ruvalcaba said. ?Without organizations such as the Mallards we would not be the leading non-profit funder of cancer research in the nation.? For more information on the American Cancer Society please call 1-800-ACS-2345 or logon to www.cancer.org.

The Mallards open the 2004 season Wednesday, June 2nd against the Wisconsin Woodchucks in Wausau. The home opener is Wednesday, June 9th at 7:05 p.m. at the Duck Pond.