Amanda M. Usher | The Valdosta Daily TimesElizabeth Smart, an abduction survivor, speaks at a benefit dinner hosted by the Children's Advocacy Center Tuesday evening at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. 

VALDOSTA — “We are not defined by what happens to us,” Elizabeth Smart said.

Smart was the keynote speaker for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lowndes County Anchored in Hope benefit dinner held Tuesday evening at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.

The Utah native was kidnapped at 14 years old in 2002 by a man and woman and wasn’t returned to her family until nine months later.

She spoke about her repeated rape and abuse to a sold-out crowd during her speech.

Smart detailed how a middle-aged man entered her bedroom while she slept, threatened her with a knife and forced her to go with him to a mountainside where she stayed as “his wife.”

After being raped the first night with him, she said she felt filthy, unlovable and worthless.

“I felt like I was ruined, like no one would ever love me, like I wasn’t as good as everyone else,” she said.

Smart said, during her experience, she began to reflect on the lessons her mother taught her and that was when she decided to survive what she labeled as the “hardest nine months of her life.”

Following her mother’s advice, Smart chose to reclaim her life following her rescue in 2003.

“My kidnapping has most definitely affected my life but it doesn’t define me,” she said. “What defines me are the decisions that I make, and that’s true for every single one of us. We decide who we are simply by the way that we live our lives, simply by what we do.”

Carla Williams, CAC of Lowndes’ board chair, said it was important for Smart to share her story of hope Tuesday during the event.

“She’s not only a survivor, but she’s flourished despite the things that she’s went through during that period,” Williams said, “and she’s doing very well now and I think that’s inspirational.”

Smart highlighted children’s advocacy centers during her speech and said staff members care about the children they assist.

“They saw the need and they came to the call,” she said. “They sacrifice so much of their time … I’m so honored to know them.”

In a brief interview, Smart said CACs are vital and are trained to deal with child victims.

“It’s so traumatic to go and retell your story a hundred times in a hundred different ways and feeling like maybe they didn’t believe you the first 99 times, maybe they question you or they doubt you,” she said, referring to children having to repeat their stories to various authorities.

The Children’s Advocacy Center allows a child to share his or her story of abuse of any form one time through forensic interviews and therapy sessions.

Ashley Lindsay, CAC of Lowndes executive director, announced the center is working to add medical services.

Also during the event, Lindsey and Caroline Scarpate presented two Caroline’s Hope Awards to Lindsay and Laura Wood.

“Caroline’s Hope is our story of redemption,” Lindsey Scarpate said. “It is our way to give back to an organization that has been an integral part of our journey and the journey of thousands of families right here in South Georgia.”

The CAC provides hope for the present and the future, Lindsey Scarpate said during her speech.

“Without the CAC, these families would be left to navigate these crises alone,” she said.

At the conclusion of dinner, Lindsay announced “America’s Most Wanted” host John Walsh will be the 2020 Anchored in Hope speaker.

For more information about the local CAC, call (229) 245-5364 or visit caclowndes.org.

Amanda M. Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.