Ahmed Abdillahi, a 45-year-old Somali native and Rotterdam postman, is running 25 solo marathons in 2025 to raise awareness about poverty in Rotterdam. He completed his tenth marathon, running from Rotterdam-Zuid to Hoek van Holland. Abdillahi hopes his efforts will attract the attention of influential people who can make a difference.

Abdillahi knows Rotterdam well from his work as a postman and sees the widening gap between rich and poor. He aims to highlight the plight of those often overlooked, drawing attention to issues he witnesses daily.

Recently, Abdillahi completed a marathon that ended on the beach of Hoek van Holland. He battled a strong headwind throughout the run. Despite the challenge, he completed the marathon in three hours and forty-five minutes.

Abdillahi is skeptical of encouraging poverty statistics, arguing that temporary measures distort the figures. He emphasizes the harsh realities faced by people living in poverty, such as sleeping under bridges and searching for deposit money in garbage cans. He also notes that poverty often occurs behind closed doors, leading to isolation.

He highlights the rising fixed costs of energy, groceries, health insurance, and housing as significant challenges for poor families. He also expresses concern about the disappearance of social housing units in Rotterdam and fears that the underclass is being pushed out of the city.