In the hours following news of James Van Der Beek's untimely death at the age of 48 more than $1 million of donations poured into his family's GoFundMe page.
The link was posted on Instagram Stories shortly after James' passing was made public in the hopes that his wife, Kimberly, and their six children, could find some financial stability after being severely impacted by the costs of James' medical care for cancer.
Their dire monetary situation was highlighted by their friend, Codie Sanchez, who has since vowed to donate an incredible $5,000 a month to help cover their cost of living.
© @vanderjames InstagramHer heartbreaking message unveiled the reality of James and Kimberly's financial struggles when she wrote on X: "The worst part is his medical expenses left them with little to nothing. If it speaks to you donate. If not a prayer is treasured too."
Codie — who is the founder and CEO of Contrarian Thinking, a financial advice enterprise — also reposted James' final social media message and added: "He left behind 6 kids and an incredible wife," who she said has "become a friend."
James once had a net worth of approximately $3 million but his fortune at the time of his death on February 11 was reported to be a fraction of that at $100,000.
© WireImageFamily friend and former WWE star, Stacy Keibler, is believed to have set up the GoFundMe page which explained that Kimberly was "working hard to stay in their home."
The link, in part, read: "Throughout his illness, the family faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain as they did everything possible to support James and provide for his care."
© Instagram"In the wake of this loss, Kimberly and the children are facing an uncertain future. The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds. They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.
"The support of friends, family, and the wider community will make a world of difference as they navigate the road ahead."
© Getty ImagesThe initial target was $500,000, but this was quickly surpassed. As of February 12, it stands at $1.3 million and counting. There have been several hefty donations with film producer Lyn Lear, matching Codie's generous $5,000 monthly donation and Zoe Saldana pledging $2,500 a month too.
Guardant Health donated $25,000 and Martin Blencowe was one of the first to donate a large sum of $10,000.
© Penske Media via Getty ImagesJames was reportedly in a hospice for the last few weeks of his life, before he died from colorectal cancer. In the months leading up to his death, James was forced to sell memorabilia to fund his medical bills.
His family continue to reside in the home in Texas where they were raising their children together after moving away from Hollywood.
HELLO! reached out to Codie for comment.
