By Mallory Mattingly
James Van Der Beek will auction off some of his DAWSON’S CREEK memorabilia to help raise additional funds to cover the costs of his cancer treatments.
“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,” Van Der Beek told PEOPLE.
“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,” he added.
The auction held in partnership with Propstore will take place Dec. 5-7. Items including the necklace Van Der Beek’s Dawson gave Joey and Dawson’s pilot episode costume will be available.
All proceeds will go directly to Van Der Beek to help offset the cost of his cancer treatments. Last year, the actor announced his stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis.
“I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” Van Der Beek said when revealing his diagnosis to the public. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
As Van Der Beek navigates this cancer diagnosis, his thoughts have turned to his family and God.
“When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, right, which was never really all that fulfilling. And then I became a husband, and that was much better. And then I became a father, and that was the ultimate. I could define myself then as a loving, capable, strong, supportive husband, father, provider, steward of the land that we’re so lucky to live on. And for a long time, that felt like a really good definition to the question, Who am I? What am I?” Van Der Beek said in a March Instagram video.
“And then this year, I had to look my own mortality in the eye. I had to come nose to nose with death,” he continued. “And all of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped for me. I was away for treatment. So I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife. I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn’t working. I couldn’t even be a steward of the land because at times I was too weak to prune all the trees during the window that you’re supposed to prune them.”
“And so I was faced with the question, if I am just a too skinny, weak guy alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I?” Van Der Beek asked. “And I meditated, and the answer came through: I am worthy of God’s love simply because I exist. And if I’m worthy of God’s love, shouldn’t I also be worthy of my own?”
Continue to keep Van Der Beek, his wife and their six children in your prayers as he continues to fight for his health.
Read Next: DAWSON’S CREEK Star Couldn’t Attend Reunion, But He Did This Instead
Questions or comments? Please write to us here.
– Content: +2Share:
– Content: +2