James Van Der Beek, who starred in Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, is selling movie merch to help ease the “financial burden” stemming from his colorectal cancer treatments and to help other families in the same situation. The actor announced the sale via his Instagram reel, where shared photos of the Varsity Blues limited edition Number 4 jerseys on sale.
“Merch drop! Excited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of #VarsityBlues with a limited edition #4 Moxon jersey—each one personally autographed by me,” he wrote. “Grab yours now at the link in my bio or head over to JVDB.Shop.”
Soundtracked to Foo Fighters’ “My Hero,” Van Der Beek’s reel features photos of him dressed in the jersey which boasts the Number 4 like his character from the film, Jonathan “Mox” Moxon, posing with a football. “100% of my net proceeds will go to families recovering from the financial burden of cancer (including my own),” he added in the caption.
The autographed jerseys are selling for $80 and there are also ones without an autograph available for $40. On his Instagram Story on Friday (via USA Today), he re-shared the lookalike jerseys from the 1999 sports movie and wrote, “Order one and get a signed one in time for Christmas.” He added: “#cancerisexpensive.”
In November, the actor revealed that he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. “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 in an interview. Though he did not elaborate on the diagnosis or prognosis, he added, “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.”
Shortly after revealing his diagnosis, he shared additional details about his medical journey. “I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy — or as far as I knew it at the time,” he said. He had given up coffee, thinking it might help with his irregular bowel movements, but when it didn’t change things, he met with a gastroenterologist, who informed him he had cancer.
While he has not detailed the stage of cancer or kind of treatment he is pursuing, there are several options depending on its progression, according to the American Cancer Society. Among them is chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or gastroenterological treatment.
Van Der Beek will take part in a two-hour television special, The Real Full Monty, where male celebrities will strip down to raise awareness for prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer testing and research. It airs on Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.
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