Craige Glendinning, a volunteer from Aberdeenshire, seeks public support to bring his fiancée Johanna from Sweden, as health issues complicate their long-distance love.
Craige Glendinning, a 33-year-old leisure centre volunteer from Insch, Aberdeenshire, has initiated a fundraising campaign to financially facilitate the move of his fiancée, Johanna Eikenaar, a 33-year-old dog caretaker from Vasteras, Sweden, to the UK. The couple met in 2013 while playing the well-known online game World of Warcraft, where Johanna used a male elf character, leading Craige to mistakenly believe he was communicating with another man for several years.
Their initial in-game interactions blossomed into a deeper connection, culminating in their first meeting in person in Newcastle in 2017. Under extraordinary circumstances, Craige proposed to Johanna on that visit with a replica ring from the Lord of the Rings franchise, which he had found in a hurry. Despite the unconventional means of his proposal, where Craige subsequently gave Johanna a Haribo ring, she accepted.
Craige’s journey has not been easy. Born with kidney failure, he has undergone two kidney transplants and has been on dialysis for over a decade. His health complications have significantly limited the couple’s time together, forcing them to endure a long-distance relationship over the past ten years. Despite their strong bond, they have only been able to spend a few months in each other’s presence.
As Craige expressed to PA Real Life, he is acutely aware of the challenges posed by his health condition, saying, “I could die overnight… the money means so much, I have no words.” The couple faces substantial financial hurdles tied to the UK immigration process. Following Brexit, the administrative barriers have intensified, and they now require £5,000 to cover the costs associated with Johanna’s visa application, Immigration Health Surcharge, and moving expenses, including transportation for their pet husky, Loki.
The government guidelines stipulate that partners applying for a family visa must typically demonstrate a combined income of £29,000 annually, a requirement not applicable to Craig due to his disability benefits. Despite his challenges, he is determined to overcome the obstacles imposed by the visa process. In recent updates to their situation, the couple has managed to establish a GoFundMe page to garner support from the public to achieve their goal of finally living together.
The distance has taken an emotional toll, with Johanna highlighting the urgency of their situation: “The sad reality of it all is that we have a limited amount of time left since Craige can still lose his kidney or die at any time.” She expressed a desire to solidify their future together after years of waiting.
As Craige continues to recover from his second kidney transplant and rediscover life in Scotland, his commitment to Johanna remains steadfast. Both have noted the significance of their experiences and relationship in today’s digital world, where connections may flourish online despite geographical constraints.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa – Provides information about the requirements and process for a family visa in the UK, which includes financial and other eligibility criteria.
- https://www.gov.uk/immigration-health-surcharges – Details the Immigration Health Surcharge costs associated with applying for a visa in the UK.
- https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/world-of-warcraft – Supports the role of online gaming like World of Warcraft in building connections between people.
- https://www.gov.uk/brexit – Explains changes and processes related to Brexit that could affect immigration and visa applications.
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-transplant/ – Provides information about kidney transplants and the associated health challenges.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
No indications of old or recycled news; the context is recent due to references to ongoing immigration challenges post-Brexit and a current fundraising campaign. However, specific details about the timeline of events were not thoroughly verified.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
Quotes are provided, but without an earliest known reference source. Quotes appear original to the narrative, but lack of web evidence means this could be their first use.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Record, a reputable UK news outlet known for local and current events reporting. However, verification from other sources is limited.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The story seems plausible due to its emotional appeal and specific details about the couple’s challenges, though direct verification of some claims (e.g., Craige’s health issues) is not readily available.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is recent and originates from a reliable news source. While quotes cannot be thoroughly verified and specific claims lack immediate evidence, the story’s plausibility and emotional context align with typical human-interest pieces. Overall, it passes due to its seeming legitimacy and alignment with common news narratives, though confidence is medium due to some unverified details.
