Eli Mahnken was a happy kid. "Eli loved life. Oftentimes he'd sing that to you,” said Heather Mahnken, Eli’s mom. He loved to run. He loved to ski. But most of all he loved to read, and found an escape from his reality in the pages of books. His reality was cancer. Eli was diagnosed with a brain tumor right before his second birthday. Reading became a passion of his at a young age, to help pass the time between treatments. It's something his first-grade teacher, Jana Johnson, helped foster -- by way of stuffed animals. Read more: https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/project-pegasus-stuffed-animals/73-b08408e7-c753-459e-a1fd-13b05e1ca682 ----- More local videos here: https://youtube.com/@9news Subscribe to NEXT: https://youtube.com/@Nexton9NEWS Stay connected: 9NEWS Website: https://www.9news.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilike9news Twitter: https://twitter.com/9NEWS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/9newsdenver/ Download the 9NEWS App: https://www.9news.com/appredirect/ Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER: https://www.9news.com/email 9NEWS (KUSA) is located in Denver, Colorado.