Local boy makes, sells pins to help fight against cancer PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Jonathon Howarth puts the finishing touches on a pin shaped like a bunny's head that he will sell to raise money for the American Cancer Society. EAST BRUNSWICK- Likemany others whose families have been touched by cancer, Jonathon Howarth has decided to fight back. What separates him from many other hardworking advocates for cancer research is that he is 10 years old. Jonathon raised $700 as of last week by selling sculpted pins with holiday themes in recentmonths. Hemakes the pins using Sculpey clay, which he shapes with cookiecutters, then bakes and glazes them. The finished products have included clovers for St. Patrick's Day and bunnies for Easter. He has been selling the pins for $2 at craft shows, including one last Saturday at St. Thomas the Apostle School, Old Bridge. The money is being donated to the American Cancer Society. Now a student at East Brunswick's Bowne-Munro Elementary School, Jonathon was a toddler when he lost his step-grandmother, Nancy Howarth, to cancer in 1999. And presently, his grandmother, Dolores Dsnoyer, is battling cancer. SCOTT FRIEDMAN Jonathon Howarth, 10, of East Brunswick, shows some of the pins and trinkets he expected to sell Saturday at a local craft show. Taking action was Jonathon's idea. All that his parents Wendy and George do is provide the supplies. "It's just amazing that he wants to do this. Most 10-year-olds are busy playing GameCube or basketball or baseball," Wendy said. "He's a B-plus/A student and he also plays on a baseball team, but this is like nothing to him. It's not like a big chore. There's no big reward, he's just doing it because he wants to. I'm so proud of him." While Jonathon expects to continue making and selling the pins through next school year, he also plans to participate in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School on May 9-10. Jonathon will be walking with others to raise awareness and funding for the fight against cancer. To donate to the Jonathon's Relay for Life campaign, visit the Web site at www.relayforlife.org. Once there, click on "Event Info" and "Find Relay Events," search for the event in Scotch Plains, choose "Donate to Participant," and type in Jonathon Howarth's name. - Brian Donahue