He triumphed over breast cancer and is now bringing hope to Long Island.
A chef who bravely overcame life-threatening male breast cancer is using his newfound purpose to host a charity raffle dubbed “All Boobs Matter,” aiming to support others in their fight against this formidable illness.
Michael Landesberg, co-owner of Jackson Hall in East Islip, has rallied community members and businesses to contribute an impressive array of items, gift cards, and prizes for the upcoming event, which is poised to generate significant funds for those battling cancer.
“There’s nothing quite like the fulfillment of making a difference in other people’s lives,” Landesberg expressed to The Post, fighting back tears.
“It’s about fostering kindness and helping others. It gives me a sense of purpose,” the 51-year-old remarked.
After already facing difficulties from pandemic-related restrictions on his restaurant in 2020, Landesberg received a diagnosis of “a very rare and aggressive form” of breast cancer — technically termed Her2+— in April of that year.
The prognosis was dire.
“Without a mastectomy and chemotherapy, I was told I had a year left to live,” he recounted. “In that moment, nothing else mattered.”
Although the mastectomy of his left breast was a brief procedure, the ensuing year of chemotherapy and hormone therapy was “a complete nightmare.” He experienced multiple hospitalizations, pancreatitis, and various complications resulting from the aggressive treatments.
<p“It was an entire year of relentless suffering. I didn’t have a single good day, not even an hour, just constant pain,” Landesberg shared.
Thankfully, those struggles are now behind him, as he has been cancer-free for over five years and has since embraced a mission to assist others.
<p“Experiences can radically alter your perspective and trajectory in life,” said Landesberg, whose 17-year-old son, Sean, now works alongside him at Jackson Hall.
<p“Now, I’m embracing this second chance.”
Since his recovery and return to the kitchen in 2022, Landesberg’s journey captured attention online and sparked his determination to uplift fellow restaurants in creative ways.
<p“I’ve been able to assist other establishments on the verge of closing down using my platform,” he noted.
In addition to promoting local businesses on social media, Landesberg incentivized customers who shopped at struggling venues by entering them into raffles for gift baskets and prizes.
<p“What began with $500 in gift cards for my restaurant quickly ballooned into an overwhelming response from the community — people wanted to contribute,” he reflected.
“Before I knew it, over 50 recipients emerged, and I found myself with thousands of dollars in prizes to give away.”
This Monday, Landesberg will host the “All Boobs Matter” breast cancer fundraiser at Jackson Hall, showcasing around 500 unique donated prizes for the raffle.
He has enlisted around 40 volunteers to help wrap and prepare the gift baskets.
<p“We’re anticipating about 1,000 attendees or more. The odds of winning something are nearly 50%,” he stated.
The prizes will include $3,000 tennis bracelets, Blackstone griddles, sports memorabilia, televisions, and an all-expenses-paid trip to Siesta Key, Florida.
Due to the sheer volume of donations, Landesberg even had to secure a storage unit to accommodate everything. Tickets will be sold for $20 for ten entries for lower-tier items and $50 for a single entry for premium items.
<p“I’ve received gift cards from over 100 restaurants,” Landesberg remarked, likening the community's support to the uplifting conclusion of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
<p“Even individuals I’ve never met have shown remarkable generosity. Just today, two strangers walked in and handed me $500 worth of gift cards.”
Having organized the fundraiser two years earlier, which raised approximately $68,000 in 2023 and 2024 combined, Landesberg is targeting $50,000 for this year, as the contributions “have surged dramatically.”
<p“This brings everyone together — there’s no arguing over politics or which restaurant serves the better steak. We’re all united in the fight against this disease,” he declared.
<p“It fills me with an indescribable joy to see how far I’ve come in these five years… if my story can save even one life, then it’s all worth it.”
