A cyclist has pedalled 550miles on the TT course and in Northern Ireland in support of William Dunlop’s family.

Adam Carroll from Holywood in Northern Ireland, has so far raised more than £2,000 by cycling the famous TT course, Ulster Grand Prix track and the North West 200 track for the late TT star’s partner Janine and children, Ella and Willa.

William lost his life last year when he crashed during practice for the Skerries 100 in County Dublin.

Unluckily for Adam, the weather was not on his side while he took on the island’s course - going against the cold wind over two days.

’The weather was rubbish,’ he said. ’The police told me not to go further on the first night as there was mist on the mountain.

’Over the two days I did four-and-a-half laps.

’I didn’t expect it to be so cold and windy, which made it very difficult. I had to have my thermals on!’

Despite the extra challenges, Adam was happy with his result and impressed by the generosity and interest he received from island residents.

’We had Lisa and Paul from Cubbon House kindly put my dad and I up for two nights for free.

’When I was cycling through Union Mills my front light came off, so I went back to find it. This guy appeared and asked "are you in trouble?". I told him what I was doing and he gave me some gear. I told him we were coming back to the Isle of Man for TT and asked "where would you recommend to stay?" and he said: "You can stay with us". It was a kind gesture again.’

He added: ’Most people on the island roads were good and gave a lot of space.’

Adam rated the stretch from Ramsey to Kate’s Cottage as the most difficult part of the course, adding that Glen Helen was ’so deceiving as it looks really flat’.

His favourite part of the TT course was Bray Hill.

’It’s quite an achievement,’ he said overall. ’I will have to bring my motorbike over next time, definitely.’

Adam said he viewed William, who he got to know through his gym at home, as a ’hero’.

Previously he told the Courier that William was someone he ’looked up to’.

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’His death was hard to take in,’ he said. ’The Dunlop family are like gods over here.

’He was very down to earth and brought a lot of joy to people. His partner was having a second child who he never got to see.’

As part of his fundraising tribute, Adam cycled from Holywood to the Ulster Grand Prix track where he did six laps of the course.

From there he went to Portrush and completed six laps around the North West 200 track.

Then from Belfast he travelled to the Isle of Man with the intention to complete six laps around the mountain course over two days.

In 2017, Adam took on a 300mile cycling challenge to Sainsbury’s stores in Northern Ireland with other employees after his friend died due to mental health reasons.

This inspired his latest solo trip.

Fundraising buckets have been left in stores TT Shirts.com on Queen’s Promenade, Douglas, plus the TT merchandise shop in Duke Street, Douglas.

Adam will pick the buckets up when he goes back home following this year’s TT.

He added that it would be a dream of his to shake hands with a member of the Dunlop family at the TT grandstand.

For more, search: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/adam-carroll