Alex had only just purchased her first car when she was abducted and attacked in it, but thanks to the kindness of the people who know her, she’ll never have to set foot in the vehicle again.

The 17-year-old was kidnapped outside the Fox’s Reach Pub in Maple Ridge and assaulted three weeks ago – forced to drive to a secluded location where she was then attacked.

The girl was applauded by police for her courage in escaping with only non-life threatening injuries, but she was too traumatized to get back into the car where the nightmare unfolded.

When Maple Ridge Chrysler dealer principal Ian Speckman was approached by Alex’s friends about a fundraiser to help Alex buy a new car, he stepped up.

“I said, ‘What’s the fundraiser for?’ They said ‘a car.’ Well, I said, ‘how long is it going to take to raise money for this car? Let’s just go get her a car.'”

Outside the pub where the terrifying ordeal happened, Alex was all smiles Sunday when she was handed the keys to her new PT Cruiser surrounded by a crowd of family and friends cheering her on.

“Oh my god…I don’t know what to say,” she said. “It means a lot that I have so many people who care about me and they're all here to celebrate that I'm still here.”

Family and friends of Alex said the self-described people lover is still dealing with the trauma of being abducted and assaulted.

“She’s getting there,” said her father Steve. “It was difficult, because it was a horrible thing to have happened to somebody so young. She’d only just had her first car.”

Steve and his wife Deborah said the car is a huge help to their daughter, who will never be the same after the incident.

“She deserves a big smile on her face after what she’s endured,” Deborah said. “I don’t think she ever will [be the same], but time will tell.”

Ian James William Campbell, 25, has been charged in connection with the Jan. 19 attack. He faces charges of kidnapping, producing an imitation firearm, assault, assault with a weapon, auto theft and unlawful confinement.

His next court appearance is set for Feb. 21.

With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Nafeesa Karim