PORTSMOUTH — On a warm July morning at the Gardner Seveney Sports Complex, a group of young soccer players were doing what young soccer players tend to do when given a soccer ball: They ran around, kicked it, chased it and occasionally kicked it in a direction that was not particularly useful.

There was, however, a bigger purpose to all that running.

The two-day Kick for Owen Soccer Camp, held July 25 and 26, brought together children ages 6 to 14, soccer coaches, local players and a community determined to help one of its own. By the end of the weekend, the camp had raised nearly $20,000 for 12-year-old Portsmouth resident Owen Biestek, who is battling a rare form of liver cancer.

Owen is preparing to enter seventh grade at Portsmouth Middle School. He is also, as anyone who has spent much time around him will quickly learn, a soccer player.

That’s important, because while Owen has spent much of the summer dealing with cancer treatments and the aftermath of a grueling surgery, he has not stopped thinking about the soccer field.

“I’ll be pretty excited to play again,” he said.

About three weeks before the camp, Owen underwent a 14½-hour operation during which doctors removed approximately 60% of his liver. The surgery removed all of the tumor, his mother, Cassie Biestek, said — a result that even surprised the surgeons.

Owen is now facing months of physical therapy and continued medical care. He had his second chemotherapy treatment July 21.

And then there is the scar. Owen lifted his shirt during an interview at the soccer camp to show the J-shaped scar just below his chest.

“I feel a lot better,” he said.

‘Strongest 12-year-old’

His mother remembers what happened after the nearly 15-hour operation.

“He looked up at us and said, ‘Want to know the coolest part about this? I’m gonna be the strongest 12-year-old that my friends ever met — who beat the rarest cancer,’” Cassie said.

“That wasn’t just a brave face because … he’s become my teacher in so many ways, too,” she said.

Owen was diagnosed with Fibrolamellar Carcinoma after he suddenly became ill following a soccer tryout in North Kingstown. Frank Rattay, who coaches soccer at Portsmouth Middle School, said his son Jacob and Owen had gone to the tryouts for the Rhode Island Surf Soccer Club.

“From there, he wasn’t feeling well at night, and the next day everything just went downhill,” Rattay said.

The diagnosis came at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Rattay learned about Owen’s condition a little more than a month and a half ago. Like a lot of people in the soccer community, he wanted to do something — anything — to help.

So he called another coach, Corey Newbury.

“We’re both big soccer fans, soccer players, soccer coaches. And he goes, ‘Hey, let’s just do something for Owen.’”

And they did.

The idea became the Kick for Owen Soccer Camp, organized with the Portsmouth Youth Soccer Association. Local sponsors and donors pitched in. A raffle was held. A Del’s Lemonade truck donated its proceeds to the family. AC Newport, which competes in the National Premier Soccer League, sent players to help coach.

Defrays medical expenses

The registration donation was $100, and the response was overwhelming.

Nearly $20,000 was raised during the two-day camp, with all of the proceeds going to Owen and his family to help defray the costs of medical care, travel, missed work and other expenses that arrive alongside a serious illness.

For Newbury, though, the money is only part of the story.

“This means everything,” he said. “I coach at various different levels — some of the highest tiers in the United States — but doing something like this for community members fills my heart. I used to coach at Portsmouth Middle School, so I know the impact that sports has on the lives of sixth- to eighth-graders.”

‘Absolute superstar’

Owen may not be able to play right now. But he was very much part of the team on Saturday.

When Owen and his family arrived, the campers gathered around to meet him.

“We get to have an absolute superstar here — one of the strongest people I’ve ever met,” instructor Jack Clarke told them. Clarke graduated from Portsmouth High School in June and will attend Rivier University in Nashua, N.H. this fall.

“I absolutely love this,” he said. “I played for AC Newport over the summer, and Owen was a huge part of us throughout the entire year. He was kind of a staple in the mentality for all of us — you know, go out and play for something bigger than just ourselves and bring the community together. In general, it just showed that we’re here for something.”

There was soccer, of course. There were drills and games and the usual youthful negotiations over the rules, which are generally conducted at a volume suggesting that FIFA has been summoned to settle the matter.

There was also a “best celebrations” contest, judged by Owen. Six winners received $10 gift cards, and one celebration featured an impressive backflip. For a while, Owen got to be the judge instead of the patient.

J.T. Newbury, Corey’s cousin, was another cano instructor. “I played on AC Newport this summer, and we’ve been a big part in helping Owen throughout his surgeries and trying to be encouraging with him,” he said. “We just wanted to help a really big cause.”

‘Humbled, shaken’

Owen’s parents have been overwhelmed by the response.

“We’re gonna turn this into something extra positive when this is all done, and do what we can to help other people,” Cassie said.

Mike Biestek described the community’s response in fewer words. “I’m humbled, shaken to the ground,” he said.

“It’s just beautiful and very emotional,” Cassie added.

As for Owen? “I’m extremely grateful for all of it, and I’m just happy that there’s someone who’s willing to help with any cause,” he said.

There are still difficult days ahead. Owen has months of physical therapy in front of him, along with continued treatment and recovery. But somewhere down the road, there is a soccer field.

And Owen intends to get back on it.

If you'd like to make a donation to help defray some of Owen's medical expenses, visit this GoFundMe page.