Ajax and PHP help

[tgmd]

Okay what I'm trying to do is have a script print out several names from a mysql array and then when you click on it a ajax funtion triggers a php script, I'm basically modifying code I already did. Here's what I have so far:

Ajax:
function getfriend(temp) {
temp="friend"+temp;
var url = "testfriend.php";
var estring = $(temp);
var pars = 'friend=' + estring.innerHTML;
var myAjax = new Ajax.Updater('friend15', url, { method:'get',parameters: pars})
}

php:
print "<div id='friend$v' onClick='javascript:getfriend($v)'>$v</div>";

Now my problem is that my ajax function only works when $v is a number, if its any letters or words it simply won't work. Does anyone know why?