Soldier To Pursue Music Career After Medical Discharge

A soldier with a debilitating illness is attempting to overcome adversity and pursue his dream of a music career.

Lance Corporal Liam Wakefield served in Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment before joining 17 Port and Maritime Regiment in Hampshire.

But in 2018, he was diagnosed with pseudoxanthoma elasticum, a rare genetic disease which affects the connective tissues and cannot be cured.

"It's something that's going to get worse as time goes on, but affects me through my eyes and through my joints," he said, adding that he has already lost a "fair amount of sight" in his left eye.

However, LCpl Wakefield said he was grateful to have been diagnosed while in the Army, saying he got "the best care" possible.

"They've kept me around and really... worked with me as well," he added.

As he prepares to be medically discharged in December, LCpl Wakefield is turning to a career in music, having teamed up with South Coast musicians Coolstar for a single 'I Keep Walkin''.

Despite the single being a "different sound" to his own music, LCpl Wakefield said he wanted to "have that versatility and be able to try something different".

"We've done three songs now together, which [are] yet to come out, so this first one is nice [because] it's the start of a journey."

Gethyn Jones, composer and producer, said the appeal of LCpl Wakefield's voice was "instantaneous".

"We knew straight away that he was right for the song and was going to give a really good performance," he said.

"Liam's vocals are very difficult to describe… there's a bit of Tom Petty there, there's a bit of Bob Dylan, but most of all it's Liam Wakefield, I guess."