MIDDLESEX TWP — The Where’s Our Water 10K and 2-mile run is serving a dual purpose this Saturday.

Proceeds from the annual event will benefit the Glade Run Lake restoration project. Four youths in particular will benefit from the WOW 10K event itself.

All residents of the Western PA Childcare facility in Emlenton — part of Mid-Atlantic Youth Services — the four will be attending the 10K not to run, but to help out at the water stations and cheer on the competitors.

“It’s a way for these kids to give back to a community rather than take from it,” said runner John Patrus, a Middlesex Township resident and a retired youth therapist. “These kids are between the ages of 14 and 17 and have committed some serious mistakes in life.

“Often times, kids who were abused become abusers themselves. They need to experience positive things to properly recover.”

These four youths — hailing from Philadelphia, Erie, Pittsburgh and Washington, Pa., respectively — were chosen because “they’ve been exuding good behavior and have been responding well to treatment,” Patrus said.

None of the four are being forced to attend the WOW event. The idea was presented to them and each is embracing the opportunity. They will be accompanied by two staff members.

“They decided they wanted to do it and they’re excited about it,” Patrus said.

Dan Patterson, executive director of Mid-Atlantic Youth Services, said Patrus has done work at the Emlenton facility.

“He’s kept in contact with us over the past couple of years and when he sees a positive opportunity for our kids in the community, he presents it to us,” Patterson said. “He wants to help kids get back on track.”

Patrus, 67, is a recovering alcoholic who will be sober for 34 years come September. He worked as a therapist for 36 years.

Patrus now drives a truck part-time for Harvest Valley Farms and was part of Harvest Valley’s race team in last year’s WOW 10K. He was the oldest in the 175-runner field and is running again on Saturday.

“It rained last year and that hurt the numbers,” Patrus said. “We’re hoping to get in the neighborhood of 350 runners this year.

“I grew up near Glade Run. I watched the thing dry up. That project means a lot to me and running has been therapeutic in my personal recovery.”

Patterson supports the concept of sending troubled youths into positive roles in the community.

“That’s the side of life they need to experience,” he said. “These kids have known mostly negativity in their lives.

“Contributing to a community event — and realizing the positive and encouraging feedback they will receive for doing so — will be a beneficial experience for them.”

Patrus agreed.

“They will be interacting with people, giving smiles and getting them back,” he said. “They will be cheering on people they don’t even know.

“They better be cheering extra loud for me. I’m going to need it.”