James Van Der Beek, the actor famed for his role in the hit 1990s series Dawson's Creek, has announced he will be selling a collection of cherished personal items to help cover the costs of his ongoing cancer treatment.
A Bittersweet Decision for a Personal Cause
The 48-year-old actor revealed his colorectal cancer diagnosis last year. In a statement to People, Van Der Beek explained his reasoning behind the sale, saying, "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 marks the second time the actor has turned to auctioning memorabilia since his diagnosis. The collection features highly personal pieces, including the very outfit he wore in the pilot episode of Dawson's Creek and a hat from the 1999 film Varsity Blues.
The High Stakes of Healthcare in America
Van Der Beek's situation casts a stark light on the immense financial burden of fighting cancer in the United States. The move to sell prized possessions underscores a harsh reality for many patients. According to the National Cancer Institute, the national cost for cancer care was projected to reach a staggering $209 billion in 2020.
On an individual level, the figures are equally daunting. Data from AARP indicates that average treatment costs can run to approximately $150,000 per patient. Van Der Beek's decision is a very public example of the extreme measures sometimes required to manage these overwhelming expenses.
Where and When to Bid
The items will be going under the hammer at Propstore's annual Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. The auction is scheduled to run from 5 December to 7 December.
Despite the emotional weight of parting with these pieces of his career, Van Der Beek is focusing on the positive. He shared that while he feels a sense of nostalgia, it also "feels good to be able to offer them through Propstore's auction to share with those who have supported my work over the years."
Since his diagnosis, the actor has maintained an optimistic outlook and continued working. He has appeared in the film Sidelined: The QB and Me and featured in an episode of the series Walker. In a powerful show of solidarity and awareness, he also participated in last year's The Real Full Monty special to support cancer research.
