Above: Staff Sgt. Christopher Potts died on Oct. 3, 2004 — his 38th birthday — while conducting traffic control operations in Taji, Iraq. He left a wife and two sons behind.

PORTSMOUTH — For 10 years they’ve been casting for a cause.

Now the organizers of the SSG Christopher Potts Fishing Tournament are looking for people nationwide to thank the family of the late Tiverton resident, who was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment, Army National Guard, Providence.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Potts died on Oct. 3, 2004 — his 38th birthday — while conducting traffic control operations in Taji, Iraq. He left a wife and two sons behind.

The fishing tournament, hosted by the Aquidneck Island Striper Team, begins at noon on Friday, Sept. 4, and ends at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. A party featuring a cookout, music and raffles will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the Portuguese American Citizens Club (PACC) on Power Street. All proceeds from the tournament and the party benefit the Potts family.

Donations aside, this year’s campaign is also focused on expressing gratitude to the family.

“We were asking ourselves, ‘How do we say thank you to the family?’” said organizer Ralph Craft. “I’ve been mailing flags out to anyone and I’m trying to get pictures from all 50 states of them holding the flag so they can be posted on our Facebook page. We’re putting them up and the (Potts) family gets to see all 50 states say thank you.”

The photos are also intended as a show of thanks to anyone who’s served in the military, he said.

“Currently we’ve got Alaska, Washington state, Oregon, Washington, D.C., California, Virginia’s coming, South Carolina’s coming, Rhode Island,” he said.

If you don’t have a flag, Mr. Craft will send you one. Just contact him at 401/297-6062 or craftyonecustoms@gmail.com.

Donations down

While the tournament has had plenty of support on social media, unfortunately there hasn’t been much of the monetary kind.

“Donations are down. It’s not good so far,” said Mr. Craft, adding that this is his last year as organizer. “Two dollars makes a difference. It’s been a very frustrating year. We’re looking for participants, people who will donate items or money.”

You can sign up for the tournament at four locations: Crafty One Customs, 2327 East Main Road Portsmouth; Riverside Marine, 211 Riverside Drive, Tiverton; Sam’s Bait & Tackle, 936 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown; and Lucky’s Bait & Tackle, 289 Market St., Warren.

Tickets to enter the fishing tournament are $25 per person — free for kids – and prizes will be awarded to anglers in several categories. Find more information at www.airstriperteam.com or on the tournament’s Facebook page.

One way to donate is by attending the pig roast at PPAC on Sept. 12. The price of a ticket gets you into that event, which will also feature live music and raffles.

“You don’t have to go fishing to help out,” said Mr. Craft.