BEIJING -- An online poll to select grassroots heroes whose good deeds have received widespread accolades will be conducted from Dec. 1 to 20.

Internet users can now vote to select 10 individuals or groups as China's "Good Samaritans" in 2017 from 61 candidates. The information is available on the official portal of Xinhua News Agency, the event's sponsor.

Candidates include a former gymnast who suffers from high level paraplegia and has spent 40 years working in children's physical education.

Also among the potential winners is a philanthropist who has spent 13 years setting up charity projects in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, raising more than 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) to help more than 100,000 children from all ethnic groups in the region.

Web users can vote via Xinhua News Agency's website, online forum, WeChat accounts and mobile apps.

A ceremony to honor the heroes will be held by Xinhua in January.

The vote, which was first held 2010, aims to promote the good deeds of ordinary people and improve moral awareness in Chinese society.