Time to send your friend a cuddly goat — and help kids with life-threatening illnesses

Imagine cuddling a warm baby goat in the middle of a work day or surprising a friend with one at their business.

The Wishing Star Foundation , a Spokane-based nonprofit, will visit local residents with live baby goats next week, May 20-24.

For 19 years, Wishing Star has raised money through “Send a Friend a Goat” week to provide wishes to children in Tri-Cities, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene who have terminal illnesses or are battling a life-threatening illness.

One of those children is Millie George, a Kennewick 5-year-old.

She has Odgen syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disorder that impacts her growth and development. She can’t crawl or walk and needs special care in Seattle.

Her disorder is so rare that Millie is one of just over 100 people worldwide suffering from it.

In all, 52 children in Washington are waiting for their wishes to be granted. An average cost of a wish is $9,500 with an additional $3,000 leveraged in the form of in-kind donated goods and services from the community.

George’s father, Gerrad George, said that Millie and her family are still deciding on her wish and plan to meet soon with the Wishing Star staff.

During the week of goat visits, the recipient who has been “goated” will be asked to donate any amount to pay for the removing the goat, or they can pass it along to another person for $75.

Anyone can sign up to have a goat delivered for a visit or they can buy “Goat Insurance” or $100 to prevent a surprise visit by going to wishingstar.org/goats .

Wishing Star is also looking for volunteers to help deliver goats.