Stuck in a Contract

Good day Last year I signed a two year contract at Virgin Active Hazeldean in August 2016. I enjoyed using the gym as iy was walking distance from where I stayed. However due to unforseen circumstances I moved to Vaalwater in Limpopo, with this being said Vaalwater is the closest town to where I stay a full 40km away. I tried to cancel the contract but they refused and said I had to pay a penalty fee of 40% of the remainder of the contract, which i am not able to afford as you have to pay it once-off. I then even tried to switch the Main member of the contract, atleast then one of my siblings could use it and it won't be R670 monthly going to waste. I have been paying my gym fee the last 9 months without visiting a Virgin Active facility once. I do understand that it is a signed contract but surely there must be exceptionsf where you can help. I basically treated Virgin Active as a Charity fund for the last year as where I could have rather givin that money then really to charities and people in need. Be very careful when signing a contract at a Virgin Active gym as it is a huge effort to get out of it. Unfortunatelly i still have to pay my monthly gym fees although i am in no position of getting to a gym. Very Dissapointed.