A Chef’s Second Chance: Serving Up Hope After Beating Cancer

When Michael Landesberg received his diagnosis of rare and aggressive male breast cancer in April 2020, doctors delivered a stark prognosis: without immediate intervention, he had just one year to live. The 51-year-old chef and co-owner of Jackson Hall in East Islip, Long Island, was already struggling with pandemic-related restaurant restrictions when this devastating news turned his world upside down. “Suddenly, that was all that mattered,” Landesberg recalls, emotion evident in his voice. What followed was what he describes as “one year of complete hell” – a mastectomy of his left breast, followed by debilitating chemotherapy and hormonal therapy that left him continuously in pain and repeatedly hospitalized with complications including pancreatitis. “I never had a good day, never even a good hour, just always pain,” he remembers of that grueling treatment period.

Today, more than five years cancer-free, Landesberg speaks with profound gratitude about his “second chance” at life. The experience fundamentally shifted his perspective and priorities, inspiring a mission that extends far beyond his restaurant’s kitchen. “Things happen that really change the perspective and course of your life,” reflects Landesberg, who now works alongside his 17-year-old son Sean at Jackson Hall. His journey through cancer awakened him to life’s fragility and the power of community support – lessons he’s determined to pass forward. Since returning to work around 2022, Landesberg has dedicated himself to helping others, whether supporting struggling local businesses during tough economic times or raising awareness about breast cancer, particularly the rare male variant that nearly claimed his life.

What began as modest efforts to help other struggling restaurants through social media promotion and customer incentives has evolved into something much larger. Landesberg created a system where customers who patronized struggling eateries could show their receipts at his restaurant and be entered into raffles for gift cards and 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 explains. The initiative grew exponentially, with Landesberg soon finding himself with “thousands and thousands of dollars in prizes” and over 50 winners in a single raffle. The community’s enthusiastic response revealed an appetite for meaningful charitable engagement that Landesberg was uniquely positioned to facilitate.

This community spirit has culminated in Landesberg’s signature fundraising event: “All Boobs Matter,” an annual breast cancer benefit held at Jackson Hall. This year’s upcoming event on Monday represents the third iteration of what has become a remarkably successful fundraiser, having already raised approximately $68,000 combined in 2023 and 2024. For this year’s raffle, Landesberg has collected an astonishing 500 different donated prizes, ranging from $3,000 tennis bracelets to Blackstone griddles, sports memorabilia, televisions, and even an all-expenses-paid vacation to Siesta Key, Florida. The sheer volume of donations required Landesberg to rent a storage unit just to house them all before the event. Tickets are priced accessibly at $20 for ten tickets for lower-tier items and $50 for one ticket for premium prizes, with Landesberg expecting around 1,000 attendees – giving participants nearly a 50% chance of winning something.

What makes the “All Boobs Matter” fundraiser particularly remarkable is how it has galvanized support from the entire Long Island community and beyond. Landesberg has gathered gift cards from over 100 restaurants and assembled a team of 40 volunteers to help wrap and prepare the elaborate gift baskets. The groundswell of generosity continues to amaze him: “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 compares the experience to the touching finale of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” where a community rallies around someone in need – though in this case, he’s channeling that goodwill toward others fighting breast cancer. With contributions “increasing dramatically” for this year’s event, Landesberg has set an ambitious goal of raising $50,000 in a single night.

For Landesberg, the fundraiser represents something far more meaningful than just the impressive dollar amount it will raise. “This brings everybody together — nobody’s arguing politics or which steakhouse is better. We’re all united to beat this,” he observes. In a time of division, he’s found that cancer – which touches so many lives regardless of background or belief – can be a unifying cause. Fighting back tears while reflecting on his journey, Landesberg articulates the profound satisfaction he derives from his new calling: “There’s no feeling like the satisfaction of having an impact on other people’s lives. It’s about spreading kindness, helping others. It gives me a sense of purpose.” Looking at where he stands today compared to five years ago, when he faced a terminal diagnosis, Landesberg finds meaning in his survival through helping others. “If my story saves the life of one person,” he says with conviction, “it makes it all worth it.” Through his remarkable resilience and community-building efforts, this chef who once received a death sentence is now serving up generous portions of hope, awareness, and lifesaving support.