James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for his role in Dawson's Creek, is auctioning memorabilia from his career to help pay for treatment for colorectal cancer. The 48-year-old, who revealed his diagnosis last year, will sell items including an outfit from the Dawson's Creek pilot and a hat from the 1999 film Varsity Blues.
The collection will be auctioned at Propstore's annual Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, running from 5 December to 7 December. Van Der Beek told People magazine: 'I've been storing these treasures for years, waiting for the right time to do something with them, and with all of the recent unexpected twists and turns life has presented recently, it's clear that the time is now.'
This is the second time Van Der Beek has sold memorabilia since his diagnosis. He expressed optimism about his condition and has continued working, appearing in the film Sidelined: The QB and Me and an episode of Walker. He also participated in The Real Full Monty, a special supporting cancer research.
The sale highlights the high costs of cancer treatment in the US. The National Cancer Institute estimated national costs at $209bn in 2020, with average individual treatment costs around $150,000, according to AARP. Van Der Beek said: 'While I have some nostalgia tugging at me as I part with these items, it feels good to be able to offer them through Propstore's auction to share with those who have supported my work over the years.'
