James Van Der Beek selling 'Varsity Blues' jerseys to raise funds for cancer treatment
James Van Der Beek is taking it back to the fictional town of West Canaan, Texas, for a good reason.
The 48-year-old actor, who starred as Jonathan "Mox" Moxon in "Varsity Blues," is fundraising for cancer treatment and selling his favorite jersey from the 1999 football movie.
"By popular demand! My favorite jersey. Maybe it was all fun plays we got run in the football sequences for the away games... but I always loved putting on the varsity whites," Van Der Beek captioned an Instagram reel announcing the sale.
"Last year when I released the Blues jersey, I was blown away by the love and support I received from all of you. It has meant more than I can ever express. I hope you enjoy this one as much as the original," he added.
Van Der Beek's unsigned "Varsity Blues" white jersey, featuring "Moxon" and the No. 4 in blue text, is priced at $40, while an autographed version is priced at $80.
Van Der Beek has been auctioning off some of his memorabilia to fundraise for cancer treatment, and earlier this month, he offered up several items from "Dawson's Creek," the hit teen drama that he starred in from 1998 until 2003.
Items up for auction include Dawson's flannel shirt and Dawson's necklace for Joey Potter, his character's love interest, who was played by actress Katie Holmes. Propstore will auction off the items on Dec. 6 as part of its Winter Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, with 100% of proceeds going to Van Der Beek.
The "Dawson's Creek" cast also reunited in New York City in late September for a one-night stage reading of the show's pilot episode, to help raise money for Van Der Beek and F Cancer, although Van Der Beek ultimately had to bow out of the special event due to two stomach viruses. Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to read the part of Dawson on his behalf.
In his latest message to fans, Van Der Beek described autographing his treasured memorabilia as "a magical full-circle moment."
"For me, every jersey I sign is a magical full-circle moment. Thank you -- for the love, the prayers, the support, and for making this jersey mean something far bigger than a movie," Van Der Beek wrote. "Endlessly grateful for all of you. Proceeds go directly toward helping with treatment and supporting families walking the same path."
Van Der Beek is currently undergoing treatment for Stage 3 colorectal cancer, a diagnosis he received in 2023 and then revealed publicly in 2024.
Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer characterized by malignant cells and polyps that grow out of control in the colon or rectum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, adults between the ages of 45 and 75 are recommended to be screened for colorectal cancer and continue getting regular screenings over time. This may help find abnormal growths at an earlier, more treatable stage.
People who may be at increased risk of developing cancer include people who have obesity, a history of smoking, moderate to heavy alcohol use, an inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, people with a family or personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, and people who have a genetic syndrome that puts them at an increased risk, such as familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).
