\u201cDawson\u2019s Creek\u201d alum James Van Der Beek is auctioning off some memorabilia from the \u201890s teen drama.<\/p>\n
Van Der Beek, 48, starred as Dawson Leery on the WB series from 1998-2003. The actor is now selling several items from the show in Propstore\u2019s Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction to fund his ongoing battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve 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\u2019s clear that the time is now,\u201d Van Der Beek wrote in a statement posted on the auction house\u2019s website<\/a>. \u201cWhile I have some nostalgia tugging at me as I part with these items, it feels good to be able to offer them through Propstore\u2019s auction to share with those who have supported my work over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Der Beek is parting with items including the necklace <\/a>that Dawson gave to Joey Potter (Katie Holmes), Dawon\u2019s flannel shirt<\/a>, and Dawson\u2019s white jumper sweater<\/a>. The bidding for the necklace starts at \u00a310,000, which is about $13,000. <\/p>\n Fans were quick to point out that Van Der Beek shouldn\u2019t have to part with the mementos to afford potentially life-saving healthcare. <\/p>\n \u201cImagine being on one of the biggest teen shows of all time and having to still sell your personal belongings just to afford proper healthcare. Our healthcare system is so broken,\u201d one person commented on The Hollywood Reporter\u2019s Instagram post <\/a>about the auction.<\/p>\n \u201cHow messed up is the healthcare system in this country? If he has to do this, how are regular people supposed to afford a fight against cancer? This makes me so mad,\u201d another wrote.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/b>TV star faces backlash after launching controversial product for kids<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Van Der Beek was diagnosed with cancer in August 2023. While commemorating his 48th birthday in a March Instagram video<\/a>, the actor said the disease has forced him to \u201clook [his] own morality in the eye.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI came nose to nose with death,\u201d Van Der Beek continued. \u201cAll of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Van Der Beek, who shares six children with wife Kimberly Brook, said his meditation practice helped him realize he\u2019s worthy of love, even as a \u201ctoo-skinny, weak guy alone in an apartment with cancer.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cI am worthy of God\u2019s love, simply because I exist. And if I\u2019m worthy of God\u2019s love, shouldn\u2019t I be worthy of my own?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cDawson\u2019s Creek\u201d is <\/b><\/i>available to stream on Hulu<\/b><\/i><\/a>.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement<\/a> and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and\/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/resizer\/v2\/2BC46SLQVRH3VH5JHH6DKOLD4A.jpg?auth=2792962514d49288db3928bbd76e7c1d0a532723e20b75d8a6298e9d6c021235&width=1280&smart=true&quality=90\")