Matt Lucas is promoting a fundraising drive marking the 20th anniversary of a charity honouring a close North London childhood friend who died from chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Karen Morris died, aged 23, in September 1998, a year after her diagnosis.

“She was so intelligent and empathetic that I could imagine she’d have been a wonderful teacher or be doing any role where she was helping other people,” Matt Lucas told the JC this week.

Before her death, Ms Morris — a French and history student at Warwick University — was involved in fund-raising for leukaemia patients and their families. Her mother Sylvia and sister Debby subsequently set up the Karen Morris Memorial Trust, which has raised £3.5 million.

The trust has opened Karen’s Homes — fully-equipped flats in close proximity to hospitals where patients and family members can stay during treatment. The first opened in Hammersmith in 2007 and others followed in Oxford, Cambridge and Birmingham.

For the 20th anniversary campaign, the trust is asking supporters to donate at least £20. Two charitable trusts have committed to matching every pound raised.

Matt Lucas is a patron of the trust and a strong advocate of Karen’s Homes, saying they “hugely benefit the mental and emotional well-being of patients and their families during the most traumatic and uncertain times.

“So many small charities start with the best intentions but find it difficult to keep going beyond the first few years. It is testimony to Sylvia and Debby’s extraordinary efforts and dedication that the KMMT has not only reached its 20th year but revolutionised the way leukaemia patients and their families are treated.”

The comedian, actor and writer raised money for the charity by appearing in a celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, partnering Vic Reeves.

“Vic is a much more intelligent man than I am so I am not sure I was much help at all,” he recalled. “But somehow we managed to win £125,000, half of which went to the KMMT.

“When the programme was broadcast in 2003, the trust was in its early years so it was fantastic to win the money and get the chance to talk about its work on national television.

“It struck a chord with people then and it continues to do so.”

Mrs Morris recalled her daughter as “an inspiring and selfless young lady. I know she would have been immensely proud of the trust’s achievements and the comfort Karen’s Homes bring to families around the country. We encourage people to give generously to our new appeal so we can continue opening these vitally important places.”