He 86’ed most cancers — and is now serving up hope on Lengthy Island.
A chef who miraculously survived deadly male breast most cancers is utilizing his “second probability” to prepare a fundraising raffle he calls “All Boobs Matter,” which he hopes will assist others battle the dread sickness.
Michael Landesberg, co-owner of Jackson Corridor in East Islip, has impressed folks from throughout to donate a treasure trove of products, present playing cards and different prizes to subsequent week’s occasion that’s anticipated to lift hundreds of {dollars} for folks struggling the ailment.
“There’s no feeling just like the satisfaction of getting an affect on different folks’s lives,” Landesberg advised The Put up whereas preventing again tears.
“It’s about spreading kindness, serving to others. It offers me a way of function,” the 51-year-old added.
Already down on his luck resulting from COVID-19-era restaurant restrictions in 2020, Landesberg was identified with “a really uncommon and aggressive type” of the sickness — technically generally known as Her2+ — in April of that yr.
He was given a grim prognosis.
“If I didn’t have a mastectomy and chemotherapy, I had one yr to dwell,” he stated. “Immediately, that was all that mattered.”
And, though the mastectomy on his left breast was solely an in a single day process, the subsequent yr of chemo and hormonal remedy “was an entire nightmare.” He was hospitalized a number of occasions and contracted pancreatitis and different illnesses from the highly effective therapies.
“It was one yr of full hell. I by no means had an excellent day, by no means even an excellent hour, simply all the time ache,” Landesberg stated.
Happily, that’s all within the rearview as Landesberg has been formally cancer-free for greater than 5 years — and he’s since discovered a better calling to assist others.
“Issues occur that basically change the attitude and course of your life,” stated Landesberg, whose 17-year-old son Sean, now works at Jackson Corridor.
“Now that is my second probability.”
Since recovering and returning to the kitchen round 2022, Landesberg went viral on-line together with his story and has set out on a mission to assist different eateries in above-and-beyond methods.
“I’ve been in a position to assist different companies that have been on the point of closure with my platform,” he stated.
Past giving social media shoutouts, Landesberg would incentivise clients who confirmed receipts from a struggling spot by coming into their names into raffles for present baskets and different prizes.
“On the time, it began with $500 in present playing cards to my restaurant. Then, there was an unbelievable outpouring from the neighborhood — all people simply needed to present me stuff,” he stated.
“Subsequent factor you understand, I had over 50 winners — I had hundreds and hundreds of {dollars} in prizes to present away.”
This Monday, Landesberg is internet hosting the “All Boobs Matter” breast most cancers fundraiser at Jackson Corridor and has gathered some 500 totally different donated prizes to raffle off.
He has additionally organized some 40 volunteers to assist wrap and put together the present baskets.
“We’re anticipating round 1,000 folks or extra. So the probabilities of successful one thing are near 50%,” he stated.
The prizes vary from $3,000 tennis bracelets to Blackstone griddles, sports activities memorabilia, TVs, and an all-expense-paid trip to Siesta Key, Florida.
Landesberg needed to hire a storage unit to carry all of the gadgets. Tickets are $20 for ten tickets for decrease tier gadgets to $50 for one ticket for premium prizes.
“I’ve gotten present playing cards from over 100 eating places,” stated Landesberg, who likened issues to the touching finish of “It’s A Fantastic Life.”
“Even folks I don’t know are contributing generously. Simply at present, I had two strangers are available and provides me $500 price of present playing cards.”
Landesberg — who hosted the fundraiser two years prior and raised an upward of $68,000 mixed in 2023 and 2024 — is aiming for $50,000 this yr alone to donate, as contributions “have elevated dramatically” this time round.
“This brings all people collectively — no one’s arguing politics or which steakhouse is best. We’re all united to beat this,” he stated.
“It’s such a tremendous feeling to have a look at the place I’m at present in comparison with 5 years in the past…if my story saves the life of 1 individual, it makes all of it price it.”
