A fundraiser will pedal 500 miles around his country and the island in tribute of TT legend William Dunlop.

Adam Carroll, 28, will take on the TT course, Ulster Grand Prix track and the North West 200 track to raise as much as possible for William’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.

Adam will begin his fundraising mission on May 6 in memory of the professional motorbike racer. He has already raised more than £1,200.

’His death was hard to take in,’ said Adam, who got to know the star through his gym. He was someone I looked up to.

’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. The money I raise will be going to Janine and his two baby girls.’

On May 6, he will cycle from Holywood in Northern Ireland, where he lives, to the Ulster Grand Prix track where he will finish six laps of the course. From there he will go to Portrush and complete six laps around the North West 200 track.

On day two he will go to Belfast and then to the docks where he will get the boat over to the Isle of Man.

On May 8 he will begin at the TT grandstand in Douglas and complete three laps around the mountain course and another three laps the following day.

This isn’t the first time Adam has taken on a big cycling challenge. In 2017 he cycled about 300 miles to all Sainsbury’s supermarkets in Northern Ireland, along with other employees, in memory of a friend who had died due to mental health reasons.

’When William Dunlop died I had a thought at Christmas that I wanted to do something,’ he said.

To help with his efforts, he has put out donation buckets around Northern Ireland and has raised money through hampers which he has placed in former TT ace Philip McCallan’s shop - Philip McCallan Motorcycles in Lisburn - and at Yamaha Motorcycles in Belfast.

Adam is grateful for the support he has received so far and would like to thank Lisa and Paul of Cubbon House Guest House on Douglas Promenade for accommodating him. Now the cyclist is seeking shopowners who can help his fundraiser by placing buckets in their shops and is also looking to borrow a car for his father who is coming over as his support.

He added that it would be great to shake hands with a member of the Dunlop family at the TT grandstand once he has completed his 500-plus mile challenge. ’William always had time for his fans and he will be missed always by the motorcycle world but most importantly his family and friends,’ he said.

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