“NOTHING is going to save our lives – we are breathing borrowed air,” the cynical Will tells the optimistic but overly obsessive Stella in this latest disease-of-the-week film.

Both have cystic fibrosis (CF), meaning that they have to remain physically apart to prevent Will from giving her a killer bacteria. As you watch their love blossom after a prickly start, it is heartbreaking when they can’t do the things we all take for granted such as holding hands, touching, hugging and kissing.

In an act of rebellion, Stella, with the aid of a snooker cue, agrees that they should stand five feet apart.

This poignant romantic drama, helmed by actor-turned-director Justin Baldoni, aims to do for CF what The Fault in Our Stars did for teenage cancer.

It’s driven by the charm and mesmerising performance of Haley Lu Richardson, who captures Stella’s vibrancy and determination not to be beaten by her illness as she vlogs everything about it on her YouTube channel.

Cole Sprouse makes a wonderfully brooding bad boy of Will, who has a penchant for drawing cartoon caricatures. Their palpable on-screen chemistry keeps you rooting for their characters against all the damning odds.

Moises Arias provides the light relief as fellow CF sufferer Poe, Stella’s childhood best friend and confidante.

The film doesn’t shy away from showing the realities of this chronic illness affecting more than 70,000 people globally and the rigours of the daily treatment they undergo to remove the build-up of thick mucus in their lungs.

Most of the drama is inevitably set in a hospital and it’s let down somewhat by its cliched sentimental ending which pulls out all the stops to get you to reach for the Kleenex.

But that can be forgiven if it raises awareness of CF. I certainly emerged wanting to learn more about it.