He 86’ed cancer — and is now serving up hope on Long Island.
A chef who miraculously survived lethal male breast cancer is using his “second chance” to organize a fundraising raffle he calls “All Boobs Matter,” which he hopes will help others battle the dread illness.
Michael Landesberg, co-owner of Jackson Hall in East Islip, has inspired people from all over to donate a treasure trove of goods, gift cards and other prizes to next week’s event that is expected to raise thousands of dollars for people suffering the ailment.
“There’s no feeling like the satisfaction of having an impact on other people’s lives,” Landesberg told The Post while fighting back tears.
“It’s about spreading kindness, helping others. It gives me a sense of purpose,” the 51-year-old added.
Already down on his luck due to COVID-19-era restaurant restrictions in 2020, Landesberg was diagnosed with “a very rare and aggressive form” of the illness — technically known as Her2+ — in April of that year.
He was given a grim prognosis.
“If I did not have a mastectomy and chemotherapy, I had one year to live,” he said. “Suddenly, that was all that mattered.”
And, although the mastectomy on his left breast was only an overnight procedure, the next year of chemo and hormonal therapy “was a complete nightmare.” He was hospitalized several times and contracted pancreatitis and other ailments from the powerful treatments.
“It was one year of complete hell. I never had a good day, never even a good hour, just always pain,” Landesberg said.
Fortunately, that’s all in the rearview as Landesberg has been officially cancer-free for more than five years — and he’s since found a higher calling to help others.
“Things happen that really change the perspective and course of your life,” said Landesberg, whose 17-year-old son Sean, now works at Jackson Hall.
“Now this is my second chance.”
Since recovering and returning to the kitchen around 2022, Landesberg went viral online with his story and has set out on a mission to help other eateries in above-and-beyond ways.
“I’ve been able to help other businesses that were on the brink of closure with my platform,” he said.
Beyond giving social media shoutouts, Landesberg would incentivise customers who showed receipts from a struggling spot by entering their names into raffles for gift baskets and other prizes.
“At the time, it started with $500 in gift cards to my restaurant. Then, there was an incredible outpouring from the community — everybody just wanted to give me stuff,” he said.
“Next thing you know, I had over 50 winners — I had thousands and thousands of dollars in prizes to give away.”
This Monday, Landesberg is hosting the “All Boobs Matter” breast cancer fundraiser at Jackson Hall and has gathered some 500 different donated prizes to raffle off.
He has also organized some 40 volunteers to help wrap and prepare the gift baskets.
“We’re expecting around 1,000 people or more. So the chances of winning something are close to 50%,” he said.
The prizes range from $3,000 tennis bracelets to Blackstone griddles, sports memorabilia, TVs, and an all-expense-paid vacation to Siesta Key, Florida.
Landesberg had to rent a storage unit to hold all the items. Tickets are $20 for ten tickets for lower tier items to $50 for one ticket for premium prizes.
“I’ve gotten gift cards from over 100 restaurants,” said Landesberg, who likened things to the touching end of “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
“Even people I don’t know are contributing generously. Just today, I had two strangers come in and give me $500 worth of gift cards.”
Landesberg — who hosted the fundraiser two years prior and raised an upward of $68,000 combined in 2023 and 2024 — is aiming for $50,000 this year alone to donate, as contributions “have increased dramatically” this time around.
“This brings everybody together — nobody’s arguing politics or which steakhouse is better. We’re all united to beat this,” he said.
“It’s such an amazing feeling to look at where I am today compared to five years ago…if my story saves the life of one person, it makes it all worth it.”
