Surviving Cancer: A Chef’s Mission of Hope on Long Island

A chef diagnosed with breast cancer is now channeling his experience into a positive initiative on Long Island. Michael Landesberg, who survived a particularly aggressive form of the disease, is using his “second chance” to hold a fundraising raffle named “all boob substances.”

Landesberg, co-owner of Jackson Hole in East Islip, is rallying the community to contribute a wide array of merchandise, gift cards, and prizes for next week’s event. He shared, with emotion, that helping others brings him immense satisfaction.

“There’s no sense of satisfaction like impacting others’ lives,” he mentioned, fighting back tears. At 51, he expressed how giving back provides him with a renewed sense of purpose.

Diagnosed with HER2+ breast cancer in April 2020, Landesberg faced a dire prognosis, especially with restaurant restrictions in place. He recalled being told, “Without mastectomy and chemotherapy, I had a year to live.” That news felt overwhelming—it was all that mattered.

His experience with treatment was harrowing. The mastectomy was a swift procedure, but chemotherapy and hormone therapy that followed were brutal. Hospital visits for pancreatitis and other complications turned the year into a nightmare. “It was a full year of hell,” he reflected.

Fortunately, Landesberg has now been cancer-free for over five years. This experience ignited a desire to support others on similar journeys. “It really changes your perspective,” he said, and his 17-year-old son, Sean, now works with him at Jackson Hole.

Since returning to the kitchen in 2022, Landesberg’s story has resonated online, motivating him to assist other struggling businesses. “I’ve been able to support eateries on the brink of closure,” he explained.

He encourages customers to show receipts from struggling local businesses to enter raffles for gift baskets and prizes. “It began as a $500 gift card, and then the community just overflowed with support,” he noted.

This Monday, Landesberg launched a fundraiser at Jackson Hole, collecting around 500 donated prizes for the raffle, aiming to gather over 1,000 attendees. “There’s nearly a 50% chance of winning something,” he mentioned.

The prizes range widely, including tennis bracelets, griddles, sports memorabilia, and vacations to Siesta Key, Florida. Landesberg had to rent a storage unit for the donations, with tickets priced at $20 for ten lower-tier items and $50 for a chance at premium gifts.

“We’ve secured gift cards from over 100 restaurants,” he shared. Some generous contributors are even strangers, with one person donating a $500 gift card.

Landesberg compares the overwhelming support to moments in heartwarming films, and after a successful fundraiser previously that raised more than $68,000, he hopes to collect $50,000 this time.

“This unites us all. We’re not discussing divisive politics; instead, we’re coming together to fight this battle,” he said. “Looking back at where I was five years ago is startling. If my journey can save even one life, it’s absolutely worth it.”