As James Van Der Beek continues to battle stage three colorectal cancer, he’s clearing out some of the most memorable props from his career to raise extra cash. On Tuesday, James announced his props from Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues are going up for auction to help his family pay for the cost of his treatment — even though he admitted that it will be a little sad to let go of some of the items he’s held on to for decades.
The auction will take place in early December.
While talking to People this week, James announced that he’s partnering with the company Propstore to sell some of the memorabilia from his most famous roles. The auction will be held from December 5-7, and those interested in scoring a piece from his personal collection can bid online or can attend the live auction in person in London on December 6.
Some of the items are expected to bring in a lot of money.
Some truly iconic items will be up for grabs in the auction, and they’re expected to really rake in the cash — 100% of which will go directly to James’ cancer treatment. Not only is he selling the costume he wore as Dawson in the WB show’s pilot episode, but he’s also selling the necklace that Dawson gave Joey on their prom night, which is expected to bring in a whopping $26,400 to $52,800.
He admitted that he still has “nostalgia” tied to the props he’s selling.
“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,” the actor 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.”
James has said he’s optimistic about his health.
Fans have been worried about James throughout his cancer battle, especially considering what a difficult time this must be for his wife, Kimberly, and their six children. But he sounds very optimistic about where his health is headed, as he told the magazine in a previous interview.
“I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” he said. “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
